Korea DPR won the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the weekend after coming from a goal down to snatch an extra time winner against USA in the tournament final at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland.
The Asian champions can now boast both age-group Women’s World Cup titles after claiming the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Russia in 2006. The result see’s a break in tradition for USA who had previously won every inaugural FIFA Women’s tournament with wins at the FIFA Women's World Cup, FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and Women's Olympic Football Tournament.
The Koreans fell behind to a freak own goal from a throw-in in the 2nd minute but drew level through Kim Un-Hyang with 13 minutes of regular time remaining, with Jang Hyon-Sun netting the winner in the second period of extra time.
Germany defeated England 3-0 in the third and fourth playoff match which preceded the final to claim the Bronze medal.
The dramatic final between two powerhouses of women’s football was a fitting way to end a tournament that captured the imagination of the New Zealand public, with a crowd of 16,162 pushing the tournament’s total to 212, 504, dwarfing the 52,630 that watched the 2006 U-20 Women’s World Cup in Russia. Korea DPR must have felt it was not going to be their day when the Americans stole into the lead after just two minutes. Cloee Colohan's long throw deceived everyone as it sailed into the Korean box, before bouncing over goalkeeper Hong Myong Hui, who could only push the ball into the back of the net as she attempted a last-ditch save. Agonisingly for Hong, had she not touched the ball, the goal would not have stood.
That fortuitous strike was almost enough to earn USA the trophy. But with only 13 minutes remaining, the Asians finally got back in the game. Reacting first when Ri Un Ae's fine free-kick came back off the bar, Kim Un Ju hooked the ball back for Kim Un Yang to head home and send the game into extra-time. And as penalties beckoned, Jang Hyon Sun kept her cool to round off a textbook counter-attack and put Korea DPR on top of the world.
The extra-time substitute needed only nine minutes to write her name in the tournament annals, beating goalkeeper Taylor Vancil at the end of an impressive team move to ensure Korea DPR took the honours at the first ever FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
Korean Coach Ri Ui Ham said the title reflected on a perfect build up and preparation campaign. “We have been training very hard for a long time to achieve this,” he said.
“We became stronger game by game. We came here with no other goal than the victory; our players were in perfect condition and showed it during the whole tournament.
“Throughout, we have been thinking only about our country and people, so we are happy that we will bring great pleasure to out motherland with this victory.”
Germany put their tearful semi-final defeat in Christchurch behind them with an impressive performance in the third-place match, beating England 3-0. Ralf Peter's side were too quick, skilful and strong for their opponents, and stamped their authority with typical promptness when Inka Wesely headed home unmarked from a corner.
Had it not been for Lauren Davey in the England goal and some wayward finishing from Dzsenifer Marozsan, the European champions would have wrapped the game up long before the end.
As it was, they had to wait until the final 15 minutes before putting the match beyond England's reach, Lynn Mester and Turid Knaak completing the scoring to give the Germans something to smile about when they depart New Zealand. Beaten on the day, England can look back on the tournament with great satisfaction, after unexpectedly reaching the semi-finals.
Japanese playmaker Mana Iwabuchi picked up the adidas Golden Ball award for the tournament’s most outstanding player, while German striker Dzsenifer Marozsan scooped the tournaments Golden Shoe award with an impressive haul of six goals.
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup – New Zealand 2008 Awards. adidas Golden, Silver and Bronze Balls adidas Golden Ball : Mana Iwabuchi (JPN) adidas Silver Ball : Dzsenifer Marozsan (GER) adidas Bronze Ball : Kristie Mewis (USA) adidas Golden, Silver and Bronze Shoes adidas Golden Shoe: Dzsenifer Marozsan (GER) adidas Silver Shoe: Vicki DiMartino (USA) adidas Bronze Shoe: Jon Myong Hwa (PRK) adidas Golden Glove Taylor Vancil (USA) FIFA Fair Play award Germany
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