North Koreans stay perfect at the Women’s Asian Cup, beating Bangladesh for its 2nd win
North Korea’s dominant performance in the Women’s Asian Cup continued on Friday as midfielder Myong Yu Jong scored her fourth goal of the tournament to lead her team to a 5-0 victory over Bangladesh. This win marked North Korea’s second consecutive victory in group play, with the three-time Asian champions scoring a total of eight goals in two matches without conceding a single goal.
After having two goals overturned by video replays earlier in the match, North Korea found their rhythm just before halftime with goals from Kim Kyong Yong and Myong in added time. Myong’s goal came from a penalty kick, which she expertly converted with a right-footed shot to the bottom right corner after Bangladesh’s Afida Khandaker was shown a yellow card for a foul.
The second half saw North Korea extend their lead with goals two minutes apart, as Kim scored her second goal of the game followed by Chae Un Yong’s close-range strike. Kim Hye-Yong sealed the victory for North Korea with a goal in the 90th minute.
In other Group B action, defending champions China faced Uzbekistan in a highly anticipated match later on Friday. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-place teams, will advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Looking ahead, North Korea is set to face China in a crucial match on Monday that will likely determine the group winner. Meanwhile, Bangladesh will take on Uzbekistan in their final group game.
In Group C action on Saturday, Japan and Vietnam will aim to secure their spots in the quarterfinals with matches against India and Taiwan, respectively. Japan and Vietnam both won their opening matches and will be looking to maintain their winning momentum.
In Group A, Australia and South Korea have already secured their spots in the quarterfinals. The two teams will face off on Sunday to determine the group winner, while Iran will need a big win against the Philippines to keep their hopes of advancing alive.
The Women’s Asian Cup has provided thrilling action and standout performances, with teams battling it out for a chance to qualify for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Stay tuned for more exciting matches and updates from the tournament.
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