DPR Korea, Japan settle for stalemate

Jeddah: DPR Korea and Japan played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024™ Asian Qualifiers Round 3 match on Saturday.
The match at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium was a balanced contest, setting up a grandstand finish when the two sides meet in the second leg at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Wednesday.
image content
Seeking a sixth appearance at the Olympics, Japan fired a warning just seconds into the tie when AS Roma star Saki Kumagai glanced a header just wide of the post from a corner kick.

Japan would go on to dominate possession but it was the Koreans who created chances for the remainder of the first half.
image content
Kim Kyong-yong outpaced the Japanese defence to collect a long ball from the back but her grounder was well covered by Japan custodian Ayaka Yamashita.

Yamashita was called into action again in the 26th minute, tipping over a powerful long range shot from Myong Yu-jong before Ri Kum-hyang’s header from the ensuing corner kick sailed just over the bar.

Three minutes before the break, Japan were nearly gifted the opener when a weak clearance found its way to Mina Tanaka, whose deflected shot almost caught out Pak Ju-mi but the Korean goalkeeper recovered brilliantly to block the attempt.
image content
Both teams adopted a more cautious approach in the second half, with the first opening coming two minutes before the hour mark, but Myong sliced her shot over the bar from a cutback down the left.

DPR Korea continued to look more dangerous and were unlucky in the 73rd minute when Ri Myong-gum’s cross from the right found Kim, who crashed her header against the bar, leaving the tie finely balanced going into Wednesday’s return leg.