A goal in each half condemned DPR Korea to a 2-0 defeat by Russia as the Asian champions lost their 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup Group E opener on Monday.
The North Koreans found themselves trailing with just three minutes at the Estadio Municipal Ester Roa played when Ivan Galanin swept home Dmitri Plentev’s cutback to give the 2015 UEFA European U-17 Championship semi-finalists the early lead.

DPR Korea thought they had levelled through Ryang Hyon-ju only to be denied the equaliser as Ryang was deemed to be in an offside position when he prodded the ball past Russia keeper Aleksandr Maksimenko.

Maksimenko’s opposite number Ri Chol-song had a moment to forget as Russia scored their second seven minutes into the second half when the DPR Korea keeper - who had an impressive campaign as the Young Chollima won penalty shootouts in the quarter and semi-finals on route to continental glory in Bangkok last year - fluffed his attempted clearance of a long ball allowing Fedor Chalov to score into an empty net.

“This match was very important for the team,” said DPR Korea coach Yon Kwang-mu, who admitted that individual errors and loss of focus contributed to his team’s downfall.

“I think we were better in the first half, but in the second we made some mistakes, such as that by our goalkeeper. In the next match we will be more awake in defence and we have to increase our concentration and attack.

“We are going to prepare for the next game or we'll have to leave the World Cup.”....

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