North Korea U20 Defeat Canada 2-0 in Quarter-Final
Korea DPR U20 secured a 2-0 victory over Canada U20 in the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup on Sunday. The result means the hosts advance while Canada's campaign comes to an end. To be fair, this was not a match decided in the opening half.
And here's the thing about the first forty-five minutes — neither side could find a way through. The quarter-final was settled in the dying moments, with two goals arriving after the ninety-minute mark. Canada had been competitive enough to believe they could get something from the game.
By then, a VAR decision had already shifted the mood. Jong Pok-Yong appeared to give Korea DPR the lead in the seventy-fourth minute, only for the goal to be cancelled for offside. One mistake ends it, and that was the turning point — the visitors felt they had a chance while the hosts were denied something they thought they deserved.
The goals finally came in stoppage time. Choe Rim-Jong opened the scoring in the ninety-second minute, and Ho Kyong added a second four minutes later. Canada had made changes to push for a response, bringing on Bailey and Mutipula in the sixty-first minute, but they could not find the breakthrough they needed.
Korea DPR now top their group with nine points from three games, having won every match so far. Canada sit second with four points after one win, one draw and one defeat. The result means the North Koreans will face whoever emerges from the other quarter-final tie.