DPR Korea 1 China 2
A thoroughly miserable grey day in Western Sydney was a total contrast to the last time these two teams were in action, intermittent rain making for ideal conditions on the field, but adding to the barriers keeping the fans away from this tournament so far. The teams emerged well ahead of kick off, North Korea straight into a technical warm up, very vocal in their drills, the cries and shrieks maybe designed to intimidate their opponents China. The Chinese team emerged to boot mini footballs into the crowd and started the traditional warm-up with a perfectly sequenced stretching and bands session. There was no doubt about tonight’s favourites, the North Koreans pinging the ball around the field with unerring accuracy while China looked more relaxed with their underdog status, as if there was no pressure on them whatsoever.
As the North Koreans players packed away their kit and also booted mini footballs into the crowd, China remained, getting more runs into their legs with only twenty minutes to kick off. Two large pockets of China fans, one on halfway in the east stand and one up high in the southern end above the flag wavers, piped up with early chants. The players were replaced with smoke cannons, the ball was painstakingly placed on the plinth by two meticulous AFC officials and the firework trolleys made their way into position. We would be looking at a crowd of over 5,000 here, those Chinese fans on halfway already making a coordinated din. The photographers were corralled into position either side of the halfway line awaiting the return of the players in their playing kits, the pre-game sequence now in full swing. The giant flag bearers moved into position. The China fans chanted, they were making this a home game, and why not? Then a big delay before Hell’s Bells tolled and the flags came out. The ruffling started, then the heartbeat music as we anticipated the arrival of the teams.
The Democratic Republic of Korea anthem DPR Korea definitely has a touch of A Long Way To Tipperary and was respectfully observed by the crowd, before the People’s Republic of China’s stirring anthem was accompanied by more than half of the crowd. Both squads assembled for their tight circles, the North Korean’s emerging to loud shouts, further intimidation of their opponents. We had our first stoppage within ten seconds as An Kuk Hyang took a blow to the face, but these players are made of tough stuff and she was up. Korea’s number 9, Kim Song Gyong, went studs up over the knee on Shao Ziqin in an ugly tackle, and somehow escaped a VAR check for a possible red card. This was spicy, the tackles flying in, and the Vietnamese referee had her work cut out. Wurigumula tried to eke a penalty from the referee before Han Jin Hong spent some time on the ground following a shove from behind. It was open, it was exciting, it was fast and the Koreans starting pushing the ball around with precision. For all the midfield possession for China, their final product was missing. This could be a classic.
When Yao Wei coughed up possession, Chae Un Yong controlled beautifully to win a corner but China stood firm. Hong Song Ok took a blow in a tackle but her teammates played on, both teams eager to keep the game moving. Wang Shuang was being buffeted between defenders as she chased and hassled. The passing was crisp and players were using their bodies to protect the ball; this was a million miles from the football we’d see in the first two rounds in the group stage. China had more invention and they had the tall unit Shao Ziqin. DPR Korea were dangerous on the break but struggling to stay onside. Wang Aifang smashed a missile just wide as a warning shot, but it was DPR Korea who took the lead with a smart goal, Han Jin Hong well onside this time and taking her time to find Kim Kyong Yong who slotted low past Chen Chen for 1-0. The whole team raced to join the celebrations, but the lead was only brief. A ball skewed out of a tackle in midfield and somehow went out for a corner. Superstar Wang Shuang’s centre was helped on to Shao Ziqin who had the wherewithal to lay the ball back to Chen Qiaozhu and she took aim and rifled the ball past Yu So Gum for a sensational equaliser.
This was by far the best football we had seen at the tournament, the speed of thought and technical ability of both teams sitting well above their future opponents. An uncharacteristic boot upfield to clear the ball showed just how the Koreans were fearful of the press of their opponents, and the half was flying by. Zhang Linyan was clattered in a challenge but got up to continue with minimal fuss, Ri Hye Gyong was warned after an off-the-ball coming together left her opponent on the ground and from the free kick, Wang Shuang had the ball in the net from a tidy lay-off by Zhang Cengxue but there was a clear offside. Play was set to restart with a free kick. That was until VAR intervened and found a foot playing everyone onside. There was disbelief around the stadium, Wang Shuang having a second opportunity to celebrate, as the North Korea players retreated to their technical area to bemoan the VAR decision. The hand gestures of the players were clearly asking the referee to look at the replay, there was no need to do so as the VAR had made the decision, and we had a bizarre moment where the Koreans refused to continue until the situation was resolved. Coach Ri Song Ho was booked for not getting his players back out and surprisingly the referee was forced to signal half-time, despite the remaining moments not being played. Peak AFC was the call. Incredible scenes, and the boos rang out around the stadium.
Only two Korean players warmed up at half time, the whole China squad was out warming up; something was brewing perhaps in the bowels of the stadium. Thankfully the Korean players were out for the second half, but they warmed up facing the Chinese substitutes, the teams running directly at each other – a potential flashpoint. China kept their opponents waiting as they huddled, the referee showing a lot of patience. Wang Shuang dummied twice from the kick off, mirroring the cheeky Korean kick off; there was a touch of animosity between the players. Hong Song Ok was brought down and Korea won a corner. Wang Shuang’s attitude earned her a yellow card, dragging back her opponent when passing up an easy ball to turn into a tackle. Wurigumula danced up the right to win a corner, Wang Shuang ever the show-stealer, moving the microphone carefully out of the way to take the set piece.
This looked like China’s game. It was there for the taking. Hong Song Ok reminded them that they were still in a contest, cutting in from the left to fire a shot at Chen Chen. Goalscorer Chen Qiaozhu showed great strength to fend off her opponent to win a free kick and there was chaos in the penalty area as Kim Kyong Yong was flattened by Shao Ziqin. A shot from Shao Ziqin squirmed just wide after a deflection to give entertainer Wang Shuang the opportunity to fire in another corner. Korea went to their bench first and won a corner straight away, the bank of AFC volunteers bouncing up and down to create the artificial atmosphere. The football continued at a fantastic pace, not frantic or frenetic, but sharp and accurate, a pleasure to see.
With 15 minutes remaining, the Koreans went with another double substitution, but Ri Myong Gum was booked for pulling back Shao Ziqin and China resumed their dominance. Wang Shuang was jostled to the ground to win a free kick just outside the area on the left, and when it was recycled in her direction, she unleashed a fierce shot that Yu Son Gum saved well. Myong Yu Jong and Choe Ilson combined to win a corner for Korea and the wind of change was happening. All of sudden a deflected through ball fell for Ri Hye Gyong who laid the ball on a plate for Choe Ilson to finish unmarked past Chen Chen. The whole Korean team celebrated as though they had won the competition, but it wasn’t long before VAR intervened and we had our next moment of controversy, the goal disallowed and the Korean players glancing to the bench as though they might protest again. This was high quality drama, pantomime even. There was a possible red card for a whack to the face as Korean tempers threatened to boil over, quite rightly waved away, The red-shirted Koreans were rushing everything and nothing was working. China looked in control. It would be a travesty for them to cough up this lead and when a challenge seemed to go out for a corner, the referee’s award of a goal kick was bemoaned once more by the angry Koreans. China managed the final minutes very well without any stress, but the referee blew for full time.
Utter confusion again when the Korean coach, already on a yellow card, remonstrated with the fourth official. Full time had been blown a minute early and the squads were ushered off the field again, the players lining up as if they may restart the game. After a quick word in the ear, the referee declared the match over and the players shook hands graciously, both sets of players running to their fans to show the love after a fantastic game of football. The AFC officials tried to rustle up some photographers for the Korean team but all eyes were on China. It was their night and they were loving the moment.
The press conferences were eagerly awaited. North Korea coach Ri Song Ho took a sharp intake of breath before speaking. They had not been mentally prepared for the quick turnaround, but they would still be aiming to reach the final. Questioned about the VAR call for the second goal, it looked offside on the device in front of the technical area. They resumed after they had calmed down, and via the translator, he remarked ‘That’s football!’. The early final whistle was also questioned, and they protested, but the referee was adamant that the game was over. Ante Milicic was glowing of his China team. They had worked a lot on set pieces, both defensively and offensively. He praised their calmness; they had expected situations to arise today and he was happy that they controlled themselves in a derby atmosphere. He was relieved not to meet his country of birth too early in the competition but reaffirmed his commitment to China and wished Australian football the best from afar in their endeavours in this competition and in the men’s World Cup later in the year.
We now know the opponents for the Matildas in Friday’s quarter final in Perth. HBF Park will be rocking as a stubborn and precise DPR Korea team arrive in Perth to try and be the next team to cause Australian heartache at a Women’s Asian Cup quarter final.