Korea DPR win FIFA U-17 WWC
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.
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 frensied 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.
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.
Earlier, goals from Kennedy Fuller, Ainsley McCammon and Maddie Padelski made sure USA beat England 3-0 to settle for bronze.—FIFA
