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Japan edge North Korea for women’s football gold

GUANGZHOU, China - Japan beat two-time defending champions North Korea 1-0 on Monday to avenge their final defeat four years ago and clinch their first gold medal in women’s football.

The winner came against the run of play in a tense game of few clear-cut chances, Japan’s Azusa Iwashimizu heading in unchallenged from a corner on 74 minutes.

“We’ve never been Asian champions before and that was our goal when we came here,” said Japan coach Norio Sasaki.

“The victory was down to the players’ will to win, and although we still have some shortcomings and room to improve, we will work hard and we want to be world champions. But this was a very good tournament for us.”

North Korean coach Kim Kwang-Min said: “The team is still young and they were tired after the last three games. They didn’t display their full abilities tonight.”

The Japanese, who were roundly jeered whenever they came forward, were close on 22 minutes, striker Shinobu Ohno firing just wide, the ball nestling in the side-netting of North Korean keeper Hong Myong-Hui’s goal.

But the North slowly warmed to their task and midfielder Ri Ye-Gyong saw her header well saved by Japanese keeper Nozomi Yamago in front of 23,000 people at Tianhe Stadium, most of them cheering on the Koreans.

The North Koreans, backed by a vocal band of about 150 fans wearing matching red jackets and caps, went even closer three minutes before the break, but Ra Un-Sim’s lovely curling strike rattled the bar, with Yamago well beaten.

North Korea dominated much of the second-half, their superior strength leaving the Japanese wilting.

A nervous-looking Yamago made a mess of a high ball on the hour, her fumble desperately scrambled out for a corner.

But just as the North looked to be getting closer, the Japan sucker-punch came.

North Korea had a final chance in injury time, but Choe Yong-Sim’s header from a corner flashed just wide.

North Korea won the 2006 gold medal match in Doha 4-2 on penalties against Japan and the two teams drew 0-0 in earlier group play in Guangzhou.

Earlier Monday, two first-half strikes helped South Korea beat China 2-0 and win bronze.