AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2024:DPR Korea 1-1 China

Tashkent: DPR Korea and China PR played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in their opening Group B match of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ Uzbekistan 2024 at Do’stlik Stadium on Monday.
Late strikes from Kim Song-gyong and Huo Yuexin saw the teams sharing the spoils at the Do’stlik Stadium with DPR Korea to face Vietnam next while China will meet Japan.

China had their first sight at goal in the sixth minute when lanky forward Lu Jiayu rose highest to nod the ball past goalkeeper Hyon Son-gyong only for the effort to be ruled offside.

DPR Korea responded with a chance of their own as Jong Kum came within a whisker of putting her side ahead, ending her solo run from the left with a shot that brushed against the Chinese post.

The evenly matched first half saw the next opportunity falling China's way after Huo Yuexin did brilliantly to win the ball in the middle and drove forward before releasing Ouyang Yuhuan but the latter’s attempt was off target.

China custodian Liu Chen then had to show good reflexes to block Choe Il-son’s header from a Pak Mi-ryong cross as the match remained goalless at the half-time break.

The end to end contest continued at the start of the second half with Choe evading several defenders before unleashing a curling shot that looked to be headed into the top corner before Liu’s fantastic intervention to push it away.

Two quick opportunities then went the way of China, Huo flashed a shot just over the bar from distance in the 51st minute before Wu Yejia was put through on goal a minute later but saw her shot well covered by Hyon.

Just when it looked like the match was heading for a goalless draw, DPR Korea struck in the 84th minute through midfielder Kim’s powerful drive from outside the box.

But China drew level four minutes later with Huo scoring with a screamer from almost 30 yards out for a well deserved point.