Korea DPR win big as PNG finish with a flourish

Korea DPR confirmed top spot in Group A with a 7-1 win over Papua New Guinea, but for many the most enduring moment of the match will be a first-half goal scored by Nicollete Ageva for the hosts. Ageva’s goal lifted the excitable home crowd into a frenzy and for 21 wild minutes in Port Moresby’s National Football Stadium, Papua New Guinea were locked at 1-1 with the Asian heavyweights.

Parity remained until eight minutes before half-time when Kim So Hyang netted the first goal of her hat-trick. Two goals in first-half stoppage-time ended the contest, but there was no denying Papua New Guinea’s fighting spirit. The PNG players scrambled desperately in defence, while busy goalkeeper Faith Kasiray was in inspired form at times.

Korea DPR omitted several key players from their starting side with only one point needed to guarantee top spot. The match started as per expectations with Ri Un Sim netting on just seven minutes.

However, then came the moment the home crowd had longed for as lone PNG striker Ageva somehow burst through a couple of would-be tacklers and lifted a bouncing ball over the advancing Rim Yong Hwa and into the net.

Korea DPR responded by making two immediate substitutions, and they eventually settled into their methodical groove. The second-half pressure was immense at times, but the local heroines concede just twice more until another was added in injury time.

source: fifa.com