Korea Republic v Norway

The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website | home

Koreans Pay Penalty As Norway Advance

by Jeremy Ruane

Norway clinched a second-placed finish in Group A at the FIFA Women's World Cup Finals on June 17, scoring a penalty early in each half to score a 2-1 win over a Korea Republic side which deserved more reward from a match watched by 13,034 fans at the Stade Auguste Delaune in Reims.

The Koreans found themselves on the back in the fourth minute, captain Cho So Hyun hauling down Maria Thorisdottir in the goal area as Guro Reiten's corner hurtled into the goalmouth.

Canadian referee Marie-Soleil Beaudoin will never award an easier penalty in her life, and Caroline Graham Hansen duly dispatched the spot-kick beyond the dive of Kim Min Jung to give Norway the early advantage.

"Taeguek Nangja" had to win this match to maintain any hopes of progressing into the knockout phase of the competition, so this early setback served only to spur them on in their quest for victory.

Ji So Yun led the charge. Pouncing on a loose ball in the eighth minute, she thrashed a twenty-yarder narrowly wide of the mark, then dashed down the right three minutes later before whipping in a cross intended for Yeo Min Ji. Ingrid Hjelmseth plucked the ball from the sky - she was to feature strongly throughout proceedings.

After Kim Do Yeon prevented a Lisa-Marie Utland pass from reaching Isabell Herlovsen in the Korean penalty area, the Asian team responded via a Ji free-kick which Yeo headed goalwards, but without enough power to give Hjelmseth great concern.

The lively opening continued when Herlovsen scooted through onto an Ingrid Engen through ball, only for her shot to be foiled by the outstretched leg of Kim Min Jung, who was to remain largely a spectator for the bulk of the rest of the half.

Korea were very much in the ascendancy, forcing the Norwegians into some panicked clearances, at least when Hjelmseth wasn't bailing them out. She grabbed a looping header from Moon Mi Ra in the 22nd minute, then was right behind another drive from Jo thirteen minutes later before clattering into team-mate and captain Maren Mjelde in her desire to keep a clean sheet soon afterwards.

Another collision, a clash of heads between Cho and Reiten, left both with headaches in the 39th minute, before Yeo rattled the side-netting following another Ji free-kick, and Norway had penalty appeals turned down in stoppage time after Utland found herself the meat in a sandwich made by Kim Do Yeon and Kang Chae Rim.

The latter was guilty of an ugly challenge in the penalty area in the 48th minute which concluded Graham's contribution to the match, and prompted referee Beaudoin to point to the spot once more - quite why she didn't book Kang remains to be seen. As challenges go in this Women's World Cup, this one comes with a R rating.

Herlovsen took over the penalty-taking duties, and found the bottom corner of the net to double Norway's lead, despite Kim Min Jung getting her hand to the effort - 2-0 to the Norwegians, a situation which the Koreans responded to in the only way they could, given the circumstances facing them going into this contest.

But only after Norway had twice gone close to ending any hopes their opponents held of recovering the situation. Herlovsen wasn't far away with a twenty-five yarder on the hour, while four minutes later, half-time substitute Karina Saevik wriggled out of three challenges on half-way before linking with Graham's replacement, Frida Maanum, who sent Kristine Minde scampering away down the left.

The overlapping fullback fired in a cross which arced behind Maanum but arrived perfectly in the stride of Saevik, who had surged downfield after starting the move. She should have finished it in style, but smashed her shot the wrong side of the post.

Back came the Koreans. Ingrid Wold's timely interception prevented Moon's pass from reaching Ji, who was sent flying in the penalty area by Mjelde in the 67th minute, an incident which the Norwegian was very fortunate to avoid being penalised for.

Seventeen minutes from time, Yeo picked out Ji, whose teasing cross was headed over by Lee from eight yards. When Lee next received a cross, from substitute Lee Mi Na five minutes later, she controlled it on the edge of the penalty area before playing a cheeky back-heeled pass through the legs of Wold.

The pass put Yeo in on goal, but as Mjelde hauled her down she fired a shot which beat Hjelmseth and set up a grandstand finish - 2-1 Norway, twelve minutes to play, and the Koreans finishing with a wet sail.

The pair who combined for the goal combined again two minutes later, Lee's cross to the near post finding Yeo arriving right on cue. Unfortunately for the goalscorer, Hjelmseth materialised at the same time, and Yeo couldn't avoid fouling the 'keeper.

Three minutes later, Ji chased down a lost cause, nutmegged Wold near the corner flag and slipped a pass to Lee, who unleashed an acute-angled shot which Hjelmseth turned away in fine style, flinging herself to her left to turn the ball to safety.

Time was the Koreans' enemy, however, but they still kept pressing, and with virtually the last kick of the game, they came desperately close to levelling the scores. Lee got to the byline on the left and whipped in a cross to the near post which Yeo met with a bullet header, the ball flashing inches past the upright with Hjelmseth beaten.

So, seconds later, were the Koreans, the 2-1 scoreline by which they were beaten in no way reflecting their contribution to the match - they deserved to win. But they paid the penalty - literally - for two goalmouth incidents early in each half which propelled the Norwegians into the knockout round, and ended the Asian nation's interest in the FIFA Women's World Cup Finals for 2019.

Korea Rep.: Kim Min Jung; Lee Eun Mi (Jeong, 79), Shin, Kim Do Yeon, Jang; Kang Chae Rim (Lee Mi Na, 66), Ji, Cho (booked, 4); Lee Geum Min, Yeo (booked, 85), Moon (Kang Yu Mi, 82)

Norway: Hjelmseth; Wold, Mjelde, Thorisdottir, Minde; Graham (Maanum, 54), Risa, Engen, Reiten; Utland (Saevik, 46), Herlovsen (Thorsenes, 69)

Referee: Marie-Soleil Beaudoin (Canada)

Group Matches