AFC U16 Women's Championships 2009 Semi Final
Defending champions DPR Korea set up a final show down with their southern neighbours after coming from behind three times to defeat Australia 4 – 3 in the semi-final match of the AFC U16 Women’s Championships.
The Westfield Australia U16 Women-s side went into the last four, as the tournament-s in-form team, having defeated China (4-0), Chinese Taipei (7-0) and Japan (3-1) to emerge from the group stage as the only team with a 100% record.
Brittany Whitfield put the Australians in front after 8 minutes of play when she rose above the pack to head home a Teigen Allen corner.
Kim Kum-Jong managed to equalised in the 17th minute for DPR Korea when the Australian defence was caught out in the final third.
Caitlin Foord managed to restore Australia-s lead in the 27th minute when Teigen Allen collected the ball deep inside her own half from a DPR Korea corner. Allen then pushed forward with the ball to catch the DPR defence out on a counter attack. Allen then slid the ball to the advanced Caitlin Foord which opened her up to a one-on-one with the DPR Korea goal keeper Yun Un Byol. Foord retained her composure to restore Australia-s lead once again.
For the second time in the match, DPR Korea were to equalise as Pong Son-Hwa, with eight minutes of the first half left to play, ensured the teams went into the break on an even terms,.
Australia came out from the break looking the brighter and regained their lead in the 64th minute when a short free kick by Stephanie Catley was laid off to Emily Van Egmond. Van Egmond managed to round one defender before a long range attempt sailed over the goalkeeper-s head into the net.
Kim Kum-Jong levelled the contest in the 77th minute with her seventh goal of the campaign.
Caitlin Foord had the opportunity to restore Australia-s lead late in the game when she managed to beat the offside trap following a speculative ball from deep in their own half from Van Egmond. Foord went past a trio of defenders before sliding her shot underneath the advancing goal keeper but her effort rebounded out off both posts.
Kim Yun-Mi was the heroine for the North Koreans when she netted the 85th minute winner after Australia had taken the lead on three separate occasions leaving Australia to battle Japan in the third-place play-off..
DPR Korea will take on Korea Republic in the tournament final. Australia will face Japan for the second time in the third-place play-off in a match which will determine who joins the eventual champions and runners up as Asia-s third representative at the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women-s World Cup, scheduled next September in Trinidad and Tobago.
Australia-s next game against Japan is on Sunday 15 November at 4.00pm (8.00pm AEDT) at the Supachalasai National Stadium, Bangkok.
Australia 3 (Brittany WHITFIELD 7-, Caitlin FOORD 27-, Emily VAN EGMOND 62-) DPR Korea 4 (Kim Kum-Jong 17-, 77-, Pong Son-Hwa 37-, Kim Yun-Mi 85-) AFC U16 Women-s Championships 12 November, 2009 Local kick-off: 7:00pm (11.00pm AEDT) Supachalasai National Stadium, Bangkok
Westfield Australia U16 Women-s line-up: Brianna DAVEY (GK), Erika ELZE, Samantha KERR, Alanna KENNEDY, Stephanie CATLEY, Emily VAN EGMOND, Rebekah STOTT (c), Brittany WHITFIELD (Tara ANDREWS 86-), Teigen ALLEN, Caitlin FOORD, Ashlee FAUL
Substitutes not used: Hannah BREWER, Alexandra HUYNH, Caitlin FRIEND, Heidi MAKRILLOS, Ruth WALLACE, Amy HIGGINS (GK), Michaela HATZIRODOS, Sharni BROWN, Candace SCIBERRAS, Madeline SEARL, Elizabeth DURACK (GK)