Korea DPR edge Spain on penalties to claim crown

Korea DPR rallied from a second half deficit to edge Spain in a penalty shootout to win a record third FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Korea DPR converted four of five penalties to win the U-17 Women’s World Cup
Goalkeeper Pak Ju-gyong made a crucial save in spot kicks to help her side
The Asian heavyweights have now won a record three World Cup crowns
FINAL
Korea DPR 1-1 Spain (4-3)
Korea DPR goals: Jon Il-chong (66) Spain goals: Celia Segura (61) Player of the Match: Irune Dorado (Spain)

Korea DPR are champions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Dominican Republic 2024™ after edging Spain 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in Sunday’s final at the Felix Sanchez Stadium in Santo Domingo.

The Asian heavyweights faced their greatest challenge yet, overcoming a second half deficit to force spot kicks, where they emerged superior to win their record third U-17 Women’s World Cup crown.

Korea DPR goalkeeper Pak Ju-gyong was barely tested in the matches leading to the final, but she proved decisive in the decider with a slew of top saves and a crucial stop in the shootout.

Pak was called upon from the beginning, denying Celia Segura less than two minutes into the contest. After the frenzied first minutes, the two teams settled into things, which yielded a cagey first half, with Alba Cerrato and Pau Comendador having looks at goal for La Rojita.

On the Korea DPR side of things, head coach Song Sung-gwon reverted to making an early substitution, replacing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024™ adidas Golden Ball winner Choe Il-son shortly before half-time with Ho Kyong, who then nearly scored off a goalkeeper error.

A tepid first half gave way to a scintillating second stanza and Spain would break the deadlock when Comendador created space for herself on the left and whipped in a cross that went past a sea of legs and rolled to Segura, who fired home.Korea DPR answered back right away on a ball over the top to Jon Il-chong, who took a touch to round Spain goalkeeper Laia Lopez and scored from a narrow angle to pull her side level.

Things stood on a knife’s edge going into the final quarter-hour, as Pak was pressed into another save to deny Cerrato, while Korea DPR mounted pressure at the other end. A winning goal was not to be found, so matters had to be settled from the spot where Korea DPR converted four of five to win the crown.

What they said
“We’re proud to beat the best European team to become the best team in the world. We were able to win because of our unity. We learned once again that if we fight together as one, winning is inevitable.” Song Sung-gwon, Korea DPR head coach

“It was a hard-fought final. We knew it would be a tough opponent, but we are incredibly proud of all the work we’ve done. Penalties are a bit of a lottery, and it didn’t go our way, but we’re still very proud of everything we accomplished” Irune Dorado, Spain midfielder.

Players who shone
Jon Il-chong (Korea DPR): The adidas Golden Ball winner did brilliantly to control a long pass and then evade Spain goalkeeper Laia Lopez to grab the crucial equaliser. When Korea DPR were at their most fragile after going down 1-0, Jon came through.

Pak Ju-gyong (Korea DPR): Pak had little to do in her team’s first five matches of the tournament, but she stepped up in a big way in the final, making a tremendous save from Celia Segura just minutes into the match, followed by a fingertip parry to deny Alba Cerrato in the second half. Her penalty save capped a superb night.

Celia Segura (Spain): Not only did she tally Spain’s goal on the night but she was at the heart of every movement forward, finding team-mates and space and getting into positions to try to score.
Moment of the day.

It could only be one thing: Kang Ryu-mi calmly stroking home the winning penalty to hand Korea DPR their record third U-17 Women’s World Cup crown.