Ho Chi Minh City: Kwon Song-Hwa's goal was enough to ensure DPR Korea continued their perfect start with a 1-0 victory over Australia in the AFC U-19 Women's Championship at Thanh Long Sports Centre.

Kwon's powerful first half strike and some resolute defending proved enough to see off Australia, who mounted a spirited fightback in which they struck the post twice.

Heavy rain before kick-off made playing conditions extremely difficult, with both teams' passes often falling short of their targets. The Australians started the brighter, though, with Nicola Bolger firing narrowly over in the second minute.

After the initial stages DPR Korea began to control the midfield, with Kim Jo-Ran and Jon Myong-Hwa dictating the pace. In the 16^th minute Kim Jo-ran had an opportunity to give her team the lead when Australian keeper Casey Dumont missed a cross but the winger chose to pass rather than shoot and the Australians scrambled the ball away.

But Kim Jo-ran was involved when the Koreans took the lead in the 22^nd minute. Coming off the left-wing, she jinked inside her marker before slipping the ball into Kwon on the edge of the box. The striker turned and unleashed a powerful strike into the left-hand side of Dumont's net.

The Koreans continued to press and Jon's long-range shot went narrowly wide with Dumont beaten before they lost central midfielder Jong Yu-ri to injury in the 29^th minute after a collision with Tara Andrews, O Hui-Sun taking her place.

The Australians almost equalised against the run of play in the 36^th minute after Caitlin Foord won a corner. Ashley Brown played a short one-two before crossing to Tara Andrews, who controlled the ball on her chest and volleyed against the post. The rebound fell to Teigen Allen but she could only find the keeper's gloves.

Australia started the second-half on top, with Emily Van-Egmond's fine strike forcing a save from keeper O Chang-Ran.

They nearly equalised in the 60^th minute after some fine play from Allen released Andrews on the right-wing. The striker's low cross found Foord in acres of space but her shot struck the inside of the left post. Shortly, after Allen should have done better after getting on the end of a corner.

DPR Korea had chances to extend their lead, with substitute Kim Un-Hwa firing narrowly wide after displaying some fine skill and Jon's strike was well-saved by Dumont, but they held on to claim three vital points that sees them top the table.