Ho Chi Minh City: With qualification to the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Uzbekistan already in the bag, in form striker Kwon Song-hwa is determined to get the victory over Japan on Thursday that will see DPR Korea claim the AFC U-19 Women's Championship title with a game to spare.
After coming on as a substitute for the last half-hour of DPR Korea's 2-1 win over neighbours Korea Republic in their opening match of the tournament, Kwon has been in inspirational form for the North Koreans.
Her 23rd minute goal was enough to earn her side a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Australia before following up her match-winning performance against the Young Matildas with a virtuoso display in DPR Korea's 5-0 hammering of the Vietnam as Sin Ui-gun's side maintained their 100% record.
"I was very happy to hear that I was named MVP [in the match against Vietnam] as it means that I made an important contribution to our team's victory," said Kwon, who scored DPR Korea's fourth goal against the tournament hosts.
"Of course I am very happy that we have qualified for the World Cup and now our whole team wishes for victory in the [AFC U-19 Women's Championship] tournament."
DPR Korea are two points ahead of defending champions Japan going into Thursday's potential title-decider at the Thanh Long Sports Centre and will have amassed an unassailable lead in the six-team, round robin tournament with one round of matches to play if they can get the better of Hiroshi Yoshida's side.
And although she is confident DPR Korea will triumph, Kwon knows that they face one of the continent's toughest sides who, the striker suggests, are strong in every department.
"I think we will win the next match [against Japan] and I will be trying my best to make this happen," she told www.the-afc.com shortly after the Vietnam game.
"The Japanese team is one of the strongest teams in Asia but I haven't thought of any specific kind of 'danger' from them."