Ri Kum-suk (17) Ri Un-suk (9) of DPR Korea celebrate their second goal during the third-fourth place playoff match between DPR Korea and Japan in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2006 at the Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide on 30 July 2006. AFC picture by Tom Miletic

By Etsuko Miyazaki

ADELAIDE: Former champions DPR Korea battled to a 3-2 win against archrivals Japan in the third-fourth place playoff of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2006 here on Sunday at the Hindmarsh Stadium.

The win slotted DPR Korea as the third Asian team in next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in China, dumping Japan into a playoff against a CONCACAF team.

Since 1990, DPR Korea have lost only twice in 11 outings against their archrivals and today they went into the match with their pride humbled by the narrow solitary goal defeat to China, enough motivation for Ri Un-suk (23), Ri Un-gyong (33, 39) to bulge the net while Japan, thoroughly outplayed for long periods, reduced the arrears through Kozue Ando (43) and Yuki Nagasato (89).

DPR Korea had won this title in 2001 by defeating Japan 2-0 in the final.

Both teams started slowly, taking time to settle into their rhythm. As a result only one shot – wayward – was managed by each side in the first 20 minutes.

The game roared into life midway through the first half when Ju Yun-mi of DPR Korea crossed from the right flank to Ri Un-suk, who hemmed in by Japanese defenders, swivelled to unleash a powerful low shot with her right foot. The ball screamed past goalkeeper Miho Fukomoto into the left corner and the Koreans were on way to their ninth victory against Japan.

Nine minutes later Nagasato should have leveled the proceedings but her shot during a goalmouth melee eluded goalkeeper Phi Un-hui, playing in place of the suspended Hye Yong-han, only to be blocked by a defender on the line.

DPR Korea immediately stitched together a reply with Ri Un-gyong and Ri Kum-suk playing a delightful one-two on the edge of the Japanese box and the former lobbing Fukomoto skillfully. Kim Kwang-min’s team was in the driving seat and six minutes later the same player was in the right position on the left side of goal to poke a rebound in.

Clawing back a three-goal deficit against a strong team like DPR Korea is a tall order and Japan started the fightback two minutes before the break when Sakai Tomoe’s long ball was headed by Homare Sawa into the path of Ando who made no mistake after hoodwinking her marker.

After the restart, Japan coach Hiroshi Ohashi substituted goalscorer Ando with striker Mio Otani and Ohno Shinobu with Eriko Arikawa, injecting a sense of urgency into the game.

The desired effect took place almost immediately as Japan poured forward with deadly intent, forcing DPR Korea to lie deep. Korean custodian Phi Un-hun was pressed into service five minutes later to keep at bay shots from Sawa and Isozaki Hiromi’s.

Ten minutes before the final whistle, Ohashi’s last throw of the dice saw young striker Mizuho Sakaguchi replace Mio Otani but the Korean defence had by then been expertly marshalled by Jang Ok-gyong. Nagasato managed to nod in the second goal off a Miyuki Yanagita cross but it was too little, too late for the Japanese, leaving them with the prospect of coming through a playoff for a spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2007.

“We are not happy and satisfied even though we got a berth in the FIFA Women’s World Cup because we came to here to be champions,” said DPR Korea coach Kim Kwang-min after the match.

“My players played positively, but the two-goal difference was difficult to overcome in the second half. We made mistakes technically when we were under pressure. Now we will prepare to win the playoff for the FIFA Women’s World Cup,” said Japan coach Ohashi.