North Korea end Maidens’ dream
The dream is over and Ghana’s Black Maidens are heading home from their campaign at this year’s FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup (WWC) following a hard fought 1-2 loss to North Korea in their quarter-final clash yesterday.
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A 94th minute goal was all North Korea needed to break the back of an unyielding Ghana Black Maidens and ditch them from the competition, just as the Maidens were finally strongly showing up in the competition.
North Korea were gifted with their first goal on the 33rd minute through a Kim Po-Ui penalty kick when a clearance from Gifty Acheampong, who had a starting role in place of the suspended Grace Acheampong, was adjudged a foul in the box.
Despite their off the pitch challenges, the Maidens showed no sign of giving up and pushed the Koreans to the wall but simply could not find the back of the net, until the 81st minute when Acheampong made amends with the equaliser, calmly heading home a confident overhead kick from Philicity Asuako.
The relief and joy of getting close to a second semi-final berth, soon turned into disappointment when the Koreans struck again on the 94th minute, with substitute Ja Un-Yong finishing off a freekick with a low grounder that found its way into the net with goalkeeper Kayza Massey completely off her line.
Painful as the defeat may seem to the Maidens, they discharged their duty creditably on the day, given that they were given little chance to reach this far after their false start against Japan in their opening game.
However, rather than be initimidated by the North Koreans, the Maidens proved tough customers and tackled them with confidence, perhaps aware that they caused the North Koreans exit from the competition two years ago, and tried all means to repeat that feat.
They almost had their way, but the Koreans, winners in 2008 and runners up in 2012, were determined not to lose again to Ghana and also held on until the very end when luck smiled on them and got the injury time goal to continue their onward match towards their third semi-final berth in the history of the competition and to rather end what would have been a glorious moment for the Maidens, who themselves were seeking their second semi-final berth after reaching that feat four years ago in Azerbaijan.
The North Koreans will now face Venezuela in the semi-final after the South Americans beat Mexico 2-1 in their match, while Japan also now face Spain after an emphatic 3-0 win over England in their quarter-final encounter yesterday.