Continually Hard-working Korea REP Side Defends 1-0 Lead to the Very End

The second match of tournament day one was played on a tropical night. Using a familiar 4-2-3-1 formation, host team China PR began the game with a display of force, with Wang Shanshan taking charge of post-play and left wing Han Peng working the ball up the field to the only striker on the team. However, Korea REP. centre-back Hwang Boram and Lim Seonjoo solemnly repelled the ball and, with the help of captain and midfielder Shim Seo Yeon, the team gradually pushed its position on the field forward, with organised ball-stealing that allowed the team to begin ravaging the China PR defence with some counter shots.

In the 27th minute of the first half a wavelike offensive allowed Jung Seolbin, on the top right, to craftily cut through her opponents and release a dynamic left-footed shot that penetrated the goal. During the first half China PR substituted aggressive midfielder Wang Shuang into the game as a second striker in order to launch its own offense. However, mounting pressure from the Korea REP team prevented China PR from moving the ball in front of the Korea REP goal.

In the beginning of the second half Korea REP player Shim Seo Yeon suffered an injury whilst defending, and Son Yunhee was sent in to replace her on field. Son battled hard in midfield, which enabled the team to continue defending from a high position on the pitch. A floating through pass by China PR substitute Wang Shuang reached Wang Shanshan, who unleashed a mighty mid-air volley, which was only to be stopped by an extraordinary save by goalkeeper Kim Jung Mi. Afterward China PR endured a number of counterattacks by the Korea REP team.

The players on the Korea REP had worked hard in their struggle for victory that a number of them fell to the ground after the final whistle was blown. The Korea REP squad has continued working to the utmost and attacking to the very end. In the end the China PR side, only one step shy of drawing, came up short.