Nanjing: Seven goals from striker from Ri Un-sim helped DPR Korea finish their AFC U-16 Women's Championship 2011 campaign in style with a thumping 8-0 win over Thailand at the Olympic Sport Center Stadium.

Hwang Yong-bong's side had nothing to lose after securing second spot behind champions Japan on Thursday and it allowed them to play with freedom against Thailand.

In contrast, Neungrutai Srathongvian's team finished bottom of the table in what proved a tough learning experience for her side in Nanjing.

Forward Kim So-hyang tore through the Thai defence to give DPR Korea the lead after six minutes and Ri Un-sim (pictured left) added three more goals in the first-half before taking her tally to seven in the second period.

The Korean onslaught started from the first whistle and after Kim So-hyang had broken the deadlock, they looked like scoring every time their frontline had possession.

Striker Ri Kyong-hyang was DPR Korea's catalyst, causing serious problems for the Thai defence and she presented Kim Hyang-ran with what seemed to be a certain scoring opportunity but the midfielder fired wide from close range.

Ri Kyong-hyang was once again in the thick of action when she set up strike partner Ri Un-sim but the winger also blasted her shot above the bar.

It proved a minor hiccup for the front two as their intelligent passing and searing pace resulted in three quick goals before the interval.

Ri Un-sim collected a superb floated pass from Ri Kyong-hyang in the box in the 31st minute and beat the Thai keeper for her first goal of the game.

A square ball from the left afforded Ri Un-sim more space to score her second and the then the striker took advantage of a scramble in the Thai box to net another in the dying minutes of the first-half to extend her team's lead to 4-0 at the break.

The Thai defence fell apart after the interval as Ri Un-sim struck four times in a span of 20 minutes.

First, the forward powered in a left-foot shot after Jon So-yon had showed great athleticism to set her up from 18 yards.

Ri Un-sim then claimed her fifth goal minutes later with a stunning header from 12 yards following a high ball before adding two more to complete the scoring.

Ri Un-sim took control of a pass from 18 yards and burst through a gaping hole in
the Thai defence before sliding the ball in from close range before the striker made it 8-0 from midfielder Ri Un-Yong's pass.

Hwang hails top scorer Ri

Nanjing: DPR Korea coach Hwang Yong-bong praised striker Ri Un-sim's seven-goal haul in an impressive 8-0 victory over Thailand in their last game of the AFC U-16 Women's Championship 2011.

Ri (pictured) struck a first-half hat-trick and added four more in the second period as to top the tournament's scoring chart with nine goals as DPR Korea wrapped up their campaign in impressive style.

Hwang now hopes the forward will continue her rich vein of form in next year's FIFA U-17 World Cup in Azerbaijan.

"She is the top scorer in our team and she performed really well today. She has been scoring well in domestic tournaments and we have high expectations for her," he said.

"She had many chances to score against China, Korea Republic and Australia as well but was too excited and missed those. Today she was not too excited and remained relaxed to score those seven goals.

"Actually we were very confident before coming into this game. This was not a difficult game and we were comfortable against Thailand. I let the players from the substitution list play today and encouraged them to score as many goals as possible and she did best among them.

"We expect she will do well in the World Cup and help us defeat big teams from other regions as well."

The coach, however, was disappointed to miss out on the title to Japan and now hopes DPR Korea can triumph at the World Cup.

"We intended to be the champions of this tournament, but we could not and I am sorry about it," he added.

"However, I am still pleased with the way we played. Our goal was to do well and get a ticket to the World Cup and I am glad we did that. So I am still satisfied with our performance in the tournament.

"We will have to concentrate our composure in front of goal. We need to work on final composition to score more goals. We sometimes push the opponents into a corner, but fail to score so we need to work on this aspect as well. I hope we will be able to overcome these shortcomings before the World Cup and win the event."

Thailand coach Neungrutai Srathongvian believes the experience of playing in this tournament will be invaluable for women's football in south-east Asia.

"I know we have not done well and lost all our games including today's match against DPR Korea but I am not too worried. We were concentrating more on learning from superior teams," she said.

"Now we will go back and apply what we have learnt in our football back home. Our presence here will certainly benefit women's football in our ASEAN region."

Nanjing: DPR Korea capitalised on a mix-up in the China defence to claim a 1-0 win and keep their AFC U-16 Women's Championship 2011 title hopes alive at the Jiangning Sports Centre on Thursday.

Kim Phyong-hwa converted an easy chance in the 46th minute after the hosts had allowed Ri Hyang-sim to nick possession deep in their own six-yard box.

The victory moved DPR Korea on to nine points from four games and made a top-three spot which would seal their place at next year's FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup all but secure.

China's chances of winning the championship are over though, with their hopes of a top-three finish resting on their final match against Korea Republic.

DPR Korea started the brighter, but they could not find the right final pass as China struggled to get out of their own half

Coach Hwang Yong-bong admitted his side lacked composure up front against Australia and they were rushed again when in promising positions.

The hosts threatened for the first time when Song Duan's pace and a neat one-two allowed her to escape her marker down the right.

She swung in a decent cross but it just evaded Dong Jiabao at the far post.

DPR Korea had penalty appeal correctly waved away when Ri Kyong-hyang tumbled under minimal contact in the area.

China goalkeeper Lu Feifei then completely missed a right-wing cross under pressure from Ri Un-sim, but, with Kim Phyong-hwa stooping to head what looked a certain opener, Lu recovered brilliantly to scramble the ball around the post.

Kim Phyong-hwa had another sight of goal, but failed to get a clean connection on her far-post volley and her weak shot was easy for Lu.

But she put her side ahead in the first minute of the second-half as China shot themselves in the foot.

The defence tried to shepherd the ball out of play only to allow Ri Hyang-sim to nick possession and, although she was crowded out, the ball fell to Kim Phyong-hwa to slot home a low shot from eight yards.

Kim Un-hwa then had a powerful shot from outside the area tipped over the top by Lu.

China tried push for an equaliser but never looked like finding a way through.

Instead, Jo Ryon-hwa should have doubled DPR Korea's lead in stoppage time, but blasted her shot against the underside of the bar when clean through.

We made our luck says Hwang
 

Nanjing: DPR Korea coach Hwang Yong-bong admitted his side's winning goal had a touch of good fortune but insisted they deserved their 1-0 win over China in the AFC U-16 Women's Championship 2011 on Thursday.

Kim Phyong-hwa scored at the start of the second-half at the Jiangning Sports Centre after a mix-up in the China defence allowed Ri Hyang-sim to nick possession in their own six-yard box.

The victory moved DPR Korea on to nine points from four games and made a top-three spot which would seal their place at next year's FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup all but secure.

"I agree that the goal was a bit lucky," Hwang (pictured) said.

"But it was scored according to how we had planned our tactics. We trained to create a goal by getting down the wings and cutting the ball back into the centre.

"In the other matches our players lacked composure and they couldn't convert their chances but on this occasion they showed their patience. I am satisfied with that goal, but sorry we missed some other simple chances.

"Our girls don't have much experience because for most of the players, this is their first international tournament so they are not perfectly prepared to take all their chances."

DPR Korea were especially guilty of missing chances in their opening 1-0 defeat to Japan, which could ultimately cost them the title.

China's hopes of a top-three finish in the six-team round-robin competition now rest on their final match against Korea Republic.

China coach Fan Xuewei was left to rue the moment of hesitation between goalkeeper Lu Feifei and defender Chen Pingping, who tried unsuccessfully to shield the ball from Ri in the build-up to the goal.

"According to our prediction I thought that this match should have been a draw," he said.

"I am very sad that due to our own mistake we lost the match. In the matches between us and Japan (which Japan won 3-0) and us and DPR Korea, we have conceded in total four goals and three of them because of our own mistakes, especially this one.

"I think the cause of this mistake was the lack of communication between defender and goalkeeper. The goalkeeper was changed this time and she is our substitute player and they had problems in their understanding."

IL GIAPPONE DOPO LA VITTORIA SULLA COREA DEL SUD (3-0) E' CAMPIONE. LA RPDC HA GARANTITO IL SECONDO POSTO CHE PORTA ALLA QUALIFICAZIONE AL MONDIALE UNDER-17 DEL 2012 IN AZERBAJIAN.

Nanjing: Ri Kyong-hyang's 90^th minute header finally broke Australia's stubborn resistance and earned DPR Korea a 1-0 win at the AFC U-16 Women's Championship on Monday.

Australia goalkeeper Eliza Campbell produced a string of outstanding saves to keep her side in the game at the Jiangning Sports Center but she was finally beaten in the dying seconds as DPR Korea made it six points from three games to remain on course for a top-three finish in the six-team tournament and a place at next year's FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

DPR Korea, impressive 4-0 winners over Korea Republic last time out, dominated possession and chances.

But they simply could not find a way through as Campbell, one of several changes from the team which lost to China 3-0 last time out, more than justified her inclusion with a fine display.

DPR Korea made the early running and Kim Un-hwa's left-footed shot from the left edge of the area struck the base of the far post and the ball fell kindly for the Australia defence who were able to clear.

Kim Phyong-hwa then raced clear but, as Campbell came out to narrow the angle, she could only shoot into the side-netting. Elizabeth Ralston then denied Kim with a superbly-timed tackle.

Ri Un-sim had a shot saved by Campbell before passing up a great chance, failing to get a strong enough contact on a ball across the face of goal when just yards from the line.

The same player glanced a header wide as DPR Korea started the second-half on the front foot and Campbell then rushed off her line and bravely dived at the striker's feet to block her shot.

DPR Korea were growing increasingly frustrated at their failure to find a way past an Australia side who had conceded seven goals in their opening two games.

Campbell then stood up to beat away a Ri Kyong-hyang shot after she had cut into the area and managed a clear sight of goal.

Australia were defending as if their lives depended on it as they blocked or cleared cross after cross.

They were again indebted to Campbell, though, as she pushed away Ri Hyang-sim's effort when the attacker was through on goal.

Things were getting desperate for Hwang Yong-bong's side and they threw players forward in search of a breakthrough.

Ri Hyang-sim had another chance but fired wide of the far post, while Campbell beat away another shot as Australia, who rode their luck at times, looked set to hold on for a hard-earned point.

But DPR Korea eventually made the breakthrough as Ri Kyong-hyang beat Campbell by sending a header into the roof of the net.

Hwang relief as Ri rescues Koreans
 

Nanjing: DPR Korea coach Hwang Yong-bong admitted his players almost paid for their lack of composure after they needed a last-minute goal to see off Australia 1-0 in the AFC U-16 Women's Championship.

Australia goalkeeper Eliza Campbell kept Hwang's side at bay almost single-handedly at times before Ri Kyong-hyang's header in the dying minutes settled the game at the Jiangning Sports Centre.

Campbell, one of several changes from the team which lost to China 3-0, produced a string of outstanding saves as chance after chance came and went for DPR Korea.

"I feel very relieved," Hwang said.

"The players are young and were too excited, rushing everything when they tried to score. That was the main reason why we could not take our chances.

"I kept on encouraging them, telling them they've done well and the chances would keep coming, but they had to be patient."

The win was DPR Korea's second of the tournament and kept them three points behind Japan, who lead the six-team table.

"This match was another very important match for us because we had to win to keep alive our hopes of winning the title," Hwang added.

"But I was quite worried to see the players were not patient enough to score their chances.

"I feel satisfied with today's result. It was not a very good performance but we still managed to win in the end and that's the important thing."

Keeper Campbell was helped by some tireless last-ditch defending with Australia also riding their luck at times.

"The Australian goalkeeper was very lucky and very good," Hwang added.

Australia coach Victoria Linton felt her side did enough to warrant a draw and also had words of praise for player-of-the-match Campbell.

"Although they had many shots and we were under a lot of pressure, I think we probably earned a point out of that," she said.

"It is disappointing to concede with 30 seconds to go.

"Our goalkeeper had an excellent game and I'm really proud of the girls' effort. We are really lucky to have three really good keepers. They've all got different strengths and I just thought that Eliza would be the right fit for this match.

"She's a little bit unorthodox but she certainly does the job. She has no fear. She comes out really well and stays big, which she showed. Her extra height and the length in her arms assisted her as well."

Australia have now lost their opening three matches, but Linton has seen real improvement in her side.

"Our goal here is to improve every half and I think we've demonstrated that," she added.

"That's a fantastic performance against a well-drilled experienced team so really pleased."

Nanjing: DPR Korea bounced back from their agonising opening-day defeat to Japan by thumping Korea Republic 4-0 at the AFC U-16 Women's Championship on Saturday.

Hwang Yong-bong's team conceded in the final seconds to lose 1-0 to Japan, having wasted several chances to take the lead.

But they more than made amends at the Jiangning Sports Centre with a classy display.

Ri Un-sim scored twice, while Ri Kyong-hyang and U Sol-gyong were also on target as Korea Republic were torn apart by the pace and strength of their opponents' attack.

Victory over their rivals also put DPR Korea right back in the hunt for a top-three finish in the six-team round-robin tournament which would earn them a place at next year's FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

Both sides began cautiously, with neither wanting to give anything away in the early stages.

But DPR Korea broke the deadlock in the 21st minute when the ball broke to Ri Kyong-hyang on the left edge of the area and she curled an effort into the near top corner.

Korea Republic striker Kim So-yi netted twice in her side's opening 4-0 win over Australia and had a golden chance to equalise here. But, with time and space, she placed a weak shot too close to Rim Yong-hwa when one-on-one with the goalkeeper, who parried the ball away.

Rim then had to be alert to tip a free-kick from deep over the bar when it threatened to bounce over her head and into the net.

But DPR Korea doubled their lead four minutes before the break when Ri Un-sim stabbed home a low cross from the right from close range.

Korea Republic made a double substitution at the break in a bid to find a way back into the match.

But they were still getting no change out of a very well-organised DPR Korea backline.

Kim almost fashioned a chance out of nothing when she collected a long ball and, with no support, held off a defender and fashioned a shooting chance before firing a shot over the top.

But DPR Korea put the result beyond doubt in the 65th minute when U knocked the ball home after Ri Hyang-sim's shot was well saved by the legs of the South Korean keeper.

And three became four seven minutes later as Ri Un-sim nicked the ball past the last defender and slid a low shot into the corner to complete a convincing victory.

Hwang takes heart at DPR Korea display
 

Nanjing: DPR Korea coach Hwang Yong-bong was delighted to see his team take their chances as they hammered Korea Republic 4-0 at the AFC U-16 Women's Championship on Saturday.

DPR Korea bounced back from their opening-day loss to Japan by putting in a classy display at the Jiangning Sports Centre with two goals in each half.

Ri Un-sim scored twice, while Ri Kyong-hyang and U Sol-gyong were also on target as Hwang's side's superior pace and power was evident.

"I am happy to see how well the players did and that makes me very satisfied," the coach said.

"All the goals came from how I had asked the players to play and we made the most of our chances. That's the most pleasing thing about the win."

DPR Korea conceded in the final seconds to lose 1-0 to Japan, having earlier wasted several good chances to have put the game to bed.

And Hwang was pleased his players did not make the same mistakes again.

He added: "The most different thing about this game as how much attention the players paid to their play.

"I am sorry about the Japan game because we were so unlucky and wasted many chances to score because of mistakes at the crucial moment.

"This time we made the right decisions at key times and that was the difference.

"We were not too disappointed by the loss against Japan. I trusted the players and the players trusted me."

Korea Republic beat Australia 4-0 in their opening match, striker Kim So-yi scoring twice, but she did not see much of the ball here as her team was overrun in midfield.

Coach Jeung Young-sam revealed he started with a more defensive strategy for this game and admitted it backfired.

"For the first half we were just concentrating on defence," he said.

"We prepared differently to how we did for the match against Australia to focus more on defending.

"I think maybe that was a little bit of a mistake.

"There is not much positive you can say about this match, although we did do better in the second half because at half-time we reverted back to the tactics we had used against Australia."

Jeung insisted, however, he had been right to experiment tactically, even if it did not pay off this time, claiming his team would have to adapt to different ways of playing throughout the competition.

"For the coming matches we want to try out lots of different kinds of strategies so I don't regret doing it," he said.

"It was something we had to try out."

Nanjing: Ruka Norimatsu powered home a stoppage-time header to earn Japan a 1-0 victory over DPR Korea in their opening match of the AFC U-16 Women's Championship on Thursday.

The Koreans had the better of the chances at the Jiangning Sports Centre, with Ri Un-sim hitting a post and Kim So-hyang miscuing in front of an open goal.

But Japan snatched victory seconds before the final whistle as Norimatsu met a right-wing corner to score.

These two teams are strongly fancied to fill two of the top three places in the six-team round-robin tournament which earn spots at  next year's FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, but Japan are now firmly in the box seat at this early stage.

DPR Korea were the first to threaten and a Ri Hyang-sim's cross from the right broke to Kim Phyong-Hwa, but her shot was charged down.

At the other end, Japan captain Yui Narumiya raced down the left and fired in a low cross which was scrambled clear at the near post.

Fireworks started going off outside the stadium midway through the half, but both sides were struggling to spark on the pitch.

Choe Hyang-mi blazed over the bar when the ball dropped to her unmarked on the edge of the area before Ri Un-sim went desperately close in the dying minutes of the first half.

The striker's shot from just outside the area was powerful and had goalkeeper Chika Hirao beaten, but cannoned back off the left-hand post.

DPR Korea were in the ascendancy and Kim So-hyang had a golden chance soon after the break.

Hirao failed to claim the ball and presented her with an open goal, but with the ball bouncing she missed her kick at the vital moment.

Kim Phyong-Hwa headed straight at Hirao as Hwang Yong-bong's side continued to look the most likely scorers, but they were almost undone from a corner.

The delivery from the right picked out Sumida unmarked in the middle six yards out, but she could only direct her header straight at keeper Rim Yong-hwa.

Japan were still struggling to carve out chances from open play, though, and Sasaki let her frustrations show with a late tackle on Choe which earned her a yellow card.

But Hiroshi Yoshida's team were celebrating soon after following just about the last action of the game.

Norimatsu met a right-wing corner with a perfect header which gave Rim no chance.

Yoshida presents case for defence

Nanjing: Japan coach Hiroshi Yoshida praised his side's resolute defence as the key to their last-gasp 1-0 win of DPR Korea in their opening match of the of the AFC U-16 Women's Championship on Thursday.

DPR Korea had the better of the possession and the chances, but could not make them count and their disappointment was compounded when Ruka Norimatsu headed home a stoppage-time winner at the Jiangning Sports Centre.

There was no time for their opponents to respond as the final whistle went almost immediately.

"It is a good way to win a football match," Yoshida said.

"I am very happy. For me it would have been acceptable to draw, but our players never gave up until the very end.

"That's why we got the winner.

"Maybe the main factor was our defence. They resisted DPR Korea well. They had many chances to score but we managed not to concede a goal."

Yoshida claimed there were plenty of lessons for his side to learn from the display, though.

"I am still not satisfied with our performance," he added.

"We made too many mistakes passing out from the back and in defensive midfield. We need to improve on that.

"DPR Korea kept the ball for longer periods than us and so our team suffered a lot."

Victory put Japan on course for a top-three finish in the six-team round-robin tournament which earns a spot at  next year's FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

They got lucky, though, with Ri Un-sim hitting a post in the first half and Kim So-hyang miscuing in front of an open goal in the second as chances went begging for DPR Korea.

And their coach Hwang Yong-bong admitted he did not see the defeat coming.

He said: "At first I was confident about winning the game because our team's play was better than theirs, and in the last minute even though I thought things were not going so well I thought we would at least draw.

"But it was very unfortunate the sudden goal at the end.

"I am not too satisfied with the way we played. It was OK, but the team did not show fully what we can do.

"But it was just our bad luck not to score. We missed very good chances maybe two or three times so that's just bad luck."

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07/11/2011 Australia – RDPC
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