North Korea clinched their third Women’s U-17 crown after beating Spain 4-3 in a nervy penalty shootout on Sunday to climax the U-17 tournament in the Dominican Republic.
The odds were firmly stacked in Spain’s favour coming into the game as defending champions – and they almost opened the scoring immediately after the game commenced at the Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez when forward Celia Segura was denied by North Korea’s goalkeeper Ju Gyong Pak.
A resolute defensive display by both sides saw the first half end goalless, as both TEAMS could not be separated.
However, the game burst into life on the hour mark when Spain’s Celia Segura found herself completely unmarked at the back post to tuck home the opening goal of the contest.
Spain’s celebrations were short-lived as North Korea went down the other end three minutes after going behind, with II Ching Jon rounding Spain’s goalkeeper, Laia Lopez, to place the ball into a gaping goal and pull parity for North Korea.
The fiercely contested tie needed to be settled from the spot as both teams could not be separated in regulation time, despite creating numerous clear-cut chances to bury the game.
After the enthralling shootout, Spain were narrowly defeated 4-3, leading to North Korea securing their third title – the most of any nation at the Women U-17 World Cup.
North Korea’s U-17 success comes a month and a half after their U-20 Women’s side clinched the U-20 World Cup crown. North Korea’s 2024 success adds to previous wins in 2008 and 2016, denying Spain the opportunity to win the title three successive times.
