AFC – DPR Korea
became the first team to book a place in Saturday's final
of the AFC Under-17 Championship with a 7-6 penalty
shoot-out victory over Qatar after 120 scoreless minutes
of football proved incapable of producing a winner.
Johar Abdulaziz Al Kaabi missed Qatar's third penalty
after the shoot-out went in to sudden-death, hitting the
post to hand victory to the Koreans, who now also qualify
for next year's FIFA World Under-17 Championship in Peru
as one of Asia's three representatives.
"I'm delighted with the result and I don't know how
to put it into words," said DPR Korea coach Pak
Hui-sam. "But there's one match to go and it will be
tough. Still, I'm very proud of my players."
The North Koreans dominated the entire 120 minutes of
play but were unable to find the back of the net due a
combination of poor finishing, bad luck and inspired
goalkeeping from Qatar's Ghaith Jumah Al Mohannadi, who
threatened to derail Korea's title bid.
"I thought Qatar played well strategically,"
said Pak. "We thought we were well prepared to deal
with the Qatar defence and we tried to find the space in
behind them but they were better than we expected.
"We were not able to use the chances we had and
Qatar proved they are a great team and I'm happy that we
beat them."
The game was a clash between the collectivism of the
Koreans and the more defensive approach of the Qataris,
the East Asians' team ethic giving them the upper hand.
Choe Myong-ho headed just wide five minutes into the game
after a deep cross by Kim Kuk-jin and 10 minutes later
Jon Kwan-gik's effort was just off-target. Less than a
minute later, Ri Chol-myong forced a sharp save out of Al
Mohannadi, the Qatari keeper gathering at the second
attempt.
Kim went closer still in the 20th minute when his header
hit the post before being cleared by the Qatari defence.
And, from the resultant corner, Jon should have opened
the scoring after Choe's inswinger caused consternation
at the back for Qatar, but he pulled his shot wide with
Al Mohannadi out of position.
DPR Korea's dominance carried over into the second half,
with substitute Myong In-ho hitting Al Mohanndi's legs
after being sent clear of the Qatar defence thanks to
Jon's excellent through-ball. Soon after, Choe saw his
volley from the edge of the area tipped over the bar by
the keeper.
Still the Koreans kept coming forward, Ri Chol-myung
testing Al Mohannadi in the 62nd minute, with the Al Khor
keeper proving equal again to the task.
With three minutes of normal time to go, Ri finally beat
Al Mohannadi with a well-taken shot on the turn from the
edge of the area. But with the custodian stranded, Ri's
shot cannoned off the top of the crossbar to safety and
Qatar survived once more.
And as extra-time wound down, Ri again came closest to
winning it before the shoot-out for the Koreans, hitting
the woodwork with a thunderous effort.
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