AFC U-16 Championship 2018 Qualifiers Group F: DPR Korea take top spot
New Taipei City: DPR Korea will be a force to be reckoned with after completing their AFC U-16 Championship 2018 Malaysia Group F qualifying campaign with a perfect record of four wins.
Hong Kong, the only team with a mathematical chance of pipping DPR Korea to the automatic spot from the group, put up a strong fight but had to concede to the superiority of their opponents as they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at the Fu Jen University in New Taipei City.
DPR Korea's qualification means they have a chance to emulate their women's U-16 team who successfully defended their AFC U-16 Women's Championship title in Chonburi, Thailand on Saturday.
Having swept aside the opposition in their earlier matches, DPR Korea were expected to do the same against Hong Kong but were made to work hard for their win.
Hong Kong, stunned 2-1 by Brunei Darussalam on Friday, were determined to prove their quality but found themselves trailing in the 38th minute when DPR Korea captain Song Hyok fired home.
DPR Korea had been unstoppable in front of goal against Macau (10-0), Brunei (7-0) and Chinese Taipei (7-0) in their earlier matches but had to wait till the final minute to confirm victory against Hong Kong, with midfielder Kim Jin Hyok scoring their second.
Sunday's win meant DPR Korea ended the qualifiers without conceding a single goal, sending a warning that they will be contenders for the title in Malaysia next year.
Photos: AFC
Source: the-afc.com
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