Grazie al gol di Jong-Hyok So al novantesimo permette alla RPDC di ottenere il pareggio contro l’Oman e di tenere viva la speranza di qualificazione, anche se nel prossimo turno servirà l’impresa contro l’Iraq.

Con tre reti negli ultimi 16 minuti (Al Saadi (R) 74′, Almoez Ali 79′ e Afif (R) 86′), il Qatar ribalta l’iniziale vantaggio coreano (al 5′ con Jo Kwang Myong) e conquista i primi tre punti del torneo.
Si complica molto il girone per i coreani, costretti a battere l’Oman (impresa non impossibile) e soprattutto l’Iraq.
Nell’altra gara, gli iraqeni hanno schiantato per 6-0 l’Oman.
Questa la classifica
Iraq 3 (+6)
Qatar 3 (+2)
RPDC 0 (-2)
Oman 0 (-6)

La formazione
1 GK CHA JONG HUN
4 DF JON KUM DONG
6 DF RO MYONG SONG
7 MF KANG NAM GWON
8 MF RI UN CHOL
9 FW KIM YU SONG 55 (5 FW CHOE JU SONG)
10 MF KIM CHOL MIN 68 (19 MF CHOE SONG IL)
13 MF JO KWANG MYONG
15 DF KIM KUK CHOL
17 DF RI KYONG JIN (C)
20 FW SO JONG HYOK 55* (11 FW JO SOL SONG)
AN YE GUN (Head Coach)

Nay Pyi Taw: Three goals in the final 16 minutes gave Qatar a stunning 3-1 comeback win over three-times champions DPR Korea in their AFC U-19 Championship Group D opener at Wunna Theikdi Stadium on Friday.

DPR Korea had been leading until the 74nd minute of the game courtesy of Jo Kwang-myong’s fifth minute goal, but a penalty-kick from Almoez Ali and strike from Ahmed Al Sadi on 79 minutes flipped the tie on its head.

And with just four minutes of the game remaining DPR Korea conceded a second spot-kick which substitute Akram Afif successfully converted to ensure his side moved up alongside Iraq at the top of Group C after the 2012 runners-up defeated Oman 6-0 in the day’s earlier fixture.

“The first game is the most important one in a tournament like this, so I am very happy with the result,” said Qatar coach Felix Sanchez Bas, who will next face Iraq on Sunday.

“Even though we conceded early, the team reacted very well and showed they wanted to get back into the game.

“We were quite comfortable with the conditions, especially in the second half as we enjoyed more possession and were able to play in a more dynamic style.”
DPR Korea tried to stamp their mark on the game early and inside the first four minutes of the game Kim Yu-song latched on to a long ball and forced a smart save from Qatar goalkeeper Yousof Hassan who tipped the low shot around his near post.

But from Kang Nam-gwon’s resulting corner kick the ball fell to midfielder Jo and he prodded home past Hassan to open the scoring for the young Chollima.

Qatari heads did not drop after going behind, though, and they began to take control of the game as DPR Korea looked to defend and maintain their lead.

And on 23 minutes, Al Sadi had a great chance to draw parity when he sneaked in at the far post but DPR Korea custodian Cha Jong-hun was equal to his driven shot with a one-handed save to avert the danger.

Qatar’s targetman Ali then went close from Abdullah Al Ahrak’s deep corner, but the striker could only stab his sliding shot at the back post into the side netting.

DPR Korea always bore a threat on the break in the first period, though, and with seven minutes of the half remaining Kim Chol-min beat the offside trap to go through on goal but his shot was blocked well by Hassan with Abdulaziz Al Khalosi then pulling off a goal-saving tackle to prevent Kim from pouncing on the rebound.

In the second-half the flow of the game remained, with DPR Korea content to allow the Qataris the bulk of the possession and look to the counter-attack as an attacking outlet.

But just past the hour-mark, the Koreans were themselves almost caught on the break as substitute Afif broke through into the penalty area but after beating Cha his shot crashed off the right-hand upright and deflected to safety.

And with Qatar continuing to attack, the pressure finally paid off with 16 minutes remaining as Al Sadi cross was handled by Jon Kum-dong to concede a penalty, which Al Sadi himself took, coolly sending Cha the wrong way to bring the scores level.

Qatar then took the lead themselves after five more minutes had passed on the clock when Al Sadi burst into the penalty area before cutting the ball back for Ali who slotted home.

A shell-shocked DPR Korea side then conceded a third goal on 86 minutes as Al Sadi again got the better of Jon, as the defender rashly brought the Qatar forward down inside the area for another penalty which Afif fired home to cement all three points for the Gulf side.

“The game didn’t go as we expected and we didn’t think we’d lose,” said DPR Korea coach An Ye-gun, whose side will now face Oman on Sunday.

“Our players were still not physically recovered from our travel from Pyongyang and there was also some miscommunication among our defenders that meant we lost the match.”

Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) — The DPRK showed its rapid progress in sports through the 17th Asian Games.
Its athletes bagged a total of 36 medals at the recent Asiad, including 11 gold medals that mean the highest score the DPRK has earned since its start of participation in the Asian Games.
At the 17th Asian Games they made a “hot wind of DPRK” in football and other events, drawing the attention of world media and sportspersons.
In the football event, in particular, DPRK women and men teams made sweeping victories in the 19-day fierce matches.
Its women football team scored 11 goals in the group league and quarterfinals, without losing even one point and defeated its Japanese rival 3:1 in the finals, thus emerging the three-time winner in the wake of the 14th and 15th Asiads. After the gold-medal match, Kim Kwang Min, coach of the DPRK women’s team, said: “We won the final against Japan and this inevitable result is because of our respected Kim Jong Un taking care of our players. We wanted to repay him for his love and care with victory.”
Meanwhile, the DPRK men’s football team beat UAE and Iraqi rivals, known to be strong teams in Western Asia, and took the silver medal at the games.
In this regard, foreign and south Korean media highlighted the news of matches played by the DPRK footballers and their results, praising the rapid football development in the DPRK.
Football coaches and experts of Japan, China and other countries highly appreciated the strong spirit and skills of the DPRK men and women footballers, expressing deep admiration at the rapid development of the DPRK’s football technique.
In weightlifting the DPRK won four gold medals out of 15 in total and three of its weightlifters set five-time new world records.
The first gold for the DPRK at the games was taken by the world champion and London Olympic gold medalist Om Yun Chol. He broke the world record in men’s 56 kg category by lifting 170 kg in jerk which led to lift of 298 kg in total.
Kim Un Guk, a London Olympic gold medalist, set world records in men’s 62 kg category snatch one time and in total lift twice. On the secret of his success, he told reporters that the credit for it goes to the respected Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un who has given him strength and courage.
Kim Un Ju broke the world record in women’s 75 kg jerk by lifting 164 kg while setting an Asian record with total lift of 292 kg.
Ri Jong Hwa finished first in women’s 58 kg category weightlifting by jerking 134 kg which led to total lift of 236 kg, 1 kg more than hopeful Chinese rival’s total lift.
Besides, weightlifters Kim Myong Hyok and Ryo Un Hui set Asian records in men’s and women’s 69 kg category snatch.
On such successes, world media said that the DPRK’s weightlifting is in the golden age. South Korea’s Yonhap News reported that the DPRK’s weightlifting has risen to be a center of the world weightlifting, with the 2012 London Olympic Games as a starting point.
The DPRK also emerged winner in other sports events of the 17th Asian Games.
Its gymnast Hong Un Jong won a gold medal in women’s vault with more than 15 points and Kim Un Hyang came first in women’s balance beam with 14.700 points.
Jong Hak Jin and Kim Ji Song respectively came first in men’s 57 kg freestyle wrestling and in men’s individual mixed 10m running target shooting.
Jang Un Hui beat her Chinese rival 2:1 in the women’s 75 kg boxing final, bringing to the DPRK the ninth gold medal.
In addition, the DPRK proved successful in judo, diving, synchronized swimming and other events.
Kim Hyok Bong and Kim Jong, who are the champions of the mixed doubles at the 52nd ITTF World Championships (individual event) and the 6th East Asian Games, overthrew their rivals of Hong Kong of China 4:1 in the finals of table-tennis mixed doubles, presenting the country with the 11th gold medal.
The signal achievements, scored by the DPRK athletes at the 17th Asian Games, have put the local people into tumult of joy, greatly inspiring them in their efforts to build a highly civilized nation under the guidance of supreme leader Kim Jong Un. -0-

The DPRK contingent that participated in the 17th Asian Games arrived in Pyongyang by air on October 5.
The delegation of the DPRK Olympic Committee came home together.
The games ran between September 19 and October 4, drawing some 14 500 sportspersons from 45 countries and regions in Asia.
The Korean athletes competed in weightlifting, table tennis, wrestling, artistic gymnastics, shooting and some other events, winning 36 medals including 11 golds.
In particular, the female soccer players scored 16 goals and beat all opponents including the defending world champion, Japan, claiming the title and rising to fame again as big-name soccer players.

At the airport, they were warmly greeted by Hyon Yong Chol, Kim Ki Nam, Choe Thae Bok and other senior Party, state and military officials, generals of the Korean People’s Army, chairpersons of sports associations, leading officials of their support organizations and officials concerned.
Sportspersons, working people and their families garlanded the gold medalists and presented bouquets to them.
The contingent visited the large portraits of beaming President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il and bowed with profound reverence to them who had performed brilliant exploits for the Juche-based sports development.

Crowds of people chanted “Welcome”, “Congratulations” and “Bravo”, waving bouquets to the players.
Pyongyang was enveloped in a festive mood to welcome the triumphant return of the heroes.
Placards and streamers reading “Warm welcome to athletes who added glory to the nation at the 17th Asian Games!” and “Congratulations to our proud sons and daughters who exalted the national honour with gold medals!” and the three-colour flags of the DPRK were seen along more than a dozen kilometre route from the entrance to Ryonmot-dong to Ryonghung Rotary and Kaesonmun, Changjon and Chollima streets.
Hundreds of thousands of citizens took to streets with the flags of the DPRK and bouquets in hands and sang and danced to give a warm welcome to the proud sons and daughters.
As the motorcade preceded by large open decorated vehicles carrying the female footballers arrived at the entrance to Ryonmot-dong, the crowds on both sides of the street burst into cheers of “Bravo”, “Welcome” and “Congratulations”, waving bouquets.
The welcoming music of the women’s brass band of the Korean People’s Internal Security Forces resounded in the street.
Recalling the fierce competitions they played with patriotic mind shared with all the service personnel and people of the country, the football champions heartily waved back to the cheering crowds.

The enthusiastic cheers got louder as they saw Om Yun Chol, Kim Un Guk, Kim Un Ju and Ri Jong Hwa who shook again the Asian weightlifting and became world aces, Jong Hak Jin, Jang Un Hui, Hong Un Jong and Kim Ji Song, titleholders in wrestling, boxing, artistic gymnastics and shooting, and Kim Hyok Bong and Kim Jong, 2013 world table tennis mixed doubles champions, who topped the same event in the games.
The enthusiastic welcome climaxed with performances of fantastic fan and janggo dances and enthralling acrobatic show given by artistes at Kim Il Sung Square.
Artistes, students and young people put garlands on the winners, presenting them with bouquets.
They were so excited that they called for holding them up in the air and hugged them, singing and dancing in great joy.
Through the waves of flowers, the motorcade proceeded to other streets.
“The scoring scenes are still vivid in my memory. Our players are great. They have won Asian Games title this time, but next time they will become world champions, I believe. I am determined to work harder to push back the frontiers of science and technology in the same spirit as they displayed to fulfil my duty as a youth of Songun Korea,” said Kim Tae Song, student at Kim Il Sung University Pyongyang Medical College who joined the cheering crowd to congratulate the proud titleholders.

Leaving behind the welcoming citizens, they climbed up Mansu Hill to lay a basket of flowers and bouquets at the statues of the President and the Chairman and made a bow to them with the humblest reverence for them.
That day sportspersons and coaches who returned home from the 17th Asian Games held a news conference at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium.
Kim Pyong Sik, vice-minister of Physical Culture and Sports who headed the contingent, referred to the scale of the games and achievements of his players.
He was followed by athletes and coaches, who said in unison that the love and trust shown by supreme leader Kim Jong Un gave them courage and grit and expressed their resolve to train harder to win more gold medals in informational matches, thereby positively contributing to demonstrating the dignity and might of Kim Il Sung nation and Kim Jong Il’s Korea.
By Song Yong Sok PT

According to Beijing News : former South Korean Prime Minister Cheng Hung said that North and South Korea , respectively, won the gold medal in the Asian Games men’s soccer and women’s football competition, if the two sides conduct exchanges in this field , will achieve good results . North Korea ‘s military ” number two man ” Hwang Pyong So says Koreas described as ” dominate Asian football .” Koreas football this trend continues , is expected to ” dominate world football .”

Pyongyang, October 5 (KCNA) — A press conference with players and coaches who bagged gold medals at the 17th Asian Games including women footballers took place at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on Sunday.
Present there were media persons here and journalists of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan.
At the press conference Kim Pyong Sik, head of the DPRK’s group of players, referred to the scope of the Asian Games and the successes of the players.
Ra Un Sim, captain of the women’s football team of the DPRK, said about the key to its becoming the strongest team in Asia.
She said it was entirely ascribable to the loving care and trust shown by the respected Marshal Kim Jong Un and courage and pluck instilled into it by him.
She went on:
In all the matches we felt as if we were hearing the Marshal saying well done and finishing them till we would win championship.
So, we defeated all the rivals to make the report of victory to the respected Marshal.
Weightlifter Kim Un Guk and female boxer Jang Un Hui said that they could startle the sports world of Asia because they displayed indomitable mental power with ardent patriotism in every match true to the noble intention of the party.
They said with deep emotion that the Marshal highly appreciated their achievements and bestowed the highest honor and happiness upon them though they fulfilled their duties as sportspersons in the era of Songun.
They renewed their firm resolution to grab gold medals at international games by sweating more in their trainings and thus demonstrate before the whole world the dignity and might of Kim Il Sung’s nation and Kim Jong Il’s Korea. -0-

Pyongyang, October 5 (KCNA) — The DPRK’s group of players and the delegation of the DPRK Olympic Committee Sunday flew back here after participating in the 17th Asian Games.
Sportspersons of the DPRK bagged 36 medals including 11 gold medals in the Asian Games.
As the plane landed, the crowd enthusiastically welcomed the players.
The players were greeted by Hyon Yong Chol, Kim Ki Nam, Choe Thae Bok, Choe Ryong Hae, Kim Yang Gon, Kim Phyong Hae, Ro Tu Chol, and Kim Yong Jin, vice-premier of the Cabinet,, Kim Su Gil, chief secretary of the Pyongyang City Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Ryom Chol Song, O Kum Chol and Ri Jong Mu, generals of the Korean People’s Army, chairmen of the associations of the relevant events, senior officials of supporter units, and officials concerned.
Sportspersons, working people and families of players put garlands around their necks and gave bouquets to them.
The players paid tribute to the portraits of smiling President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il.
Pyongyangites with DPRK flags and flowers in their hands warmly congratulated the players along the route from the entrance of Ryonmot-dong to Ryonghung Crossroads and Kumsong, Chilsongmun, Changjon Crossroads and other streets.
A large group of open cars carrying women footballers arrived at the entrance of Ryonmot-dong.
The moment, cheers “Admirable” “Welcome” and “Congratulations” burst forth and streets turned into a sea of flowers.
Dependable women footballers made reunions with working people of the capital city, recalling the days they played matches with minds of all service personnel and people.
When the car group entered Ryonghung Crossroads via Jangsan Street, the atmosphere of welcome ran higher.
Many students and people warmly welcomed players who glorified the dignity and honor of the country with high football technique, enthusiastically waving flowers and dancing.
When the car group entered Kaesonmun and Chilsongmun streets via the Arch of Triumph the crowed raised stormy cheers.
When the car group entered route along the Chollima Statue, Changjon Street and Kim Il Sung Square, the welcome of the crowd reached climax. It passed through the Pyongyang Grand Theater, Yonggwang Street, plaza of Pyongyang Railway Station and route of Chollima Street. It headed to Mansu Hill through Pothong Gate.
The sportspersons laid a floral basket and bouquets before the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and paid tribute to them. -0-