DPR Korea Draws Out its Competitive Strength Through a Tough Back-and-Forth Fight Against the Chinese Home Team

As the heat bore down, a tough battle unfolded with the play moving back-and-forth. DPR Korea set the pace of the match initially. They pushed China PR with tough checking from the front, when, at the five minute mark in the first half, Ju Hyo Sim took a second ball and passed it forward. Kim Yun Mi took the ball and managed to keep it in the penalty area even while being squeezed by the Chinese defense, and then shot backwards into the net. Furthermore, as DPR Korea continued its onslaught, at the 24-minute mark of the first half, after passing back and forth on the left side, Ju Hyo Sim took a forward shot on net. Although it was blocked, midfielder Wi Jong Sim picked up the rebound and delivered a powerful kick with the left foot to score a follow-up goal.

However, as the forward pressure from DPR Korea started to ease, China PR launched a stinging side counterattack. A mid shot at the 32-minute mark of the first half hits Kim Un Hyang's hand, and taking advantage of the penalty kick opportunity, Li Dongna nailed the shot to bring the score to within one point.

As the stands heated up with excitement, China PR put on the pressure and brought the fast forward Liu Jun onto the field, moved the left midfielder Han Peng to the right side, and brought the forward Wang Shuang from the forward line to the left, speeding up the pace of the forward attack. The goal to even the score occurred at the 52-minute mark. Wang Shuang swiftly took the ball coming from the left in the center, and while Liu Jun was blocked when she swooped in front of the goal, Wang Shanshan, a master at picking up a loose ball, kicked it in with her right foot.

It looked as though China was on a major rush, but their exhaustion or general sluggishness gave DPR Korea an opportunity it was not going to pass up. At the 69-minute mark, as the ball was moved up deep through the Chinese defense, Wi Jong Sim took a pass from the right, and, after deftly cutting in and dodging two players, fired a shot with her left foot. With this second goal of hers, she succeeded in taking the lead.

In the end game, although the DPR Korean players stumbled on several occasions, China PR was never able to break DPR Korea's lead despite a fierce final push. Through this tough match, DPR Korea demonstrated its competitive strength. The team has won two consecutive matches and is now counting on wining the third match, against Korea Rep, and hoping to reprise its victory from the last tournament.