2016 U-20 Women's World Cup Final in the Books
After the United States' Third Place Match against Japan, North Korea and France took the field. While Japan and the U.S. felt one another out for the early part of their first half, North Korea and France came out on the attack. This mindset set up a fairly early goal. At the 17' mark, France had been awarded a free kick. The ball went in to the penalty box, ricocheted off a French player, and headed towards Geyoro. She got a foot on the ball and it went through Korean goalkeeper Myong Sun's legs. The ball then slowly crossed the goal line, giving France a 1-0 lead. Of course, North Korea had been moving the ball well too, and in the 30th minute, Wi Jong Sim made her way into the penalty box. There, a cross from the left side went her way as she ran towards the left goal post. She one-timed it towards the goal, and Jong Sim got it passed her defender and goalkeeper Mylene Chavas. The game was now level at 1-1. No further goals were scored in the first half, and the teams went into halftime still tied.
From the outset of the second half, one could see that the pace of the first half was going to continue. The attacking mindset paid early dividends for North Korea, as they were awarded a free kick from outside the right side of the penalty box in the 30th minute. The ball was volleyed towards the near post, where it was flicked back, and headed by Kim Phyong Hwa a second later. Chavas got her left hand on it, but the ball had enough force to get passed her. North Korea was now up 2-1. The French didn't seem dejected in any way, and the reason for that was that they had still moved the ball well. However, little by little, the Korean defense began to clamp down, while still attacking pretty well. That ability to still attack led to an 87th minute penalty shot, after Hawa Cissoko had committed a foul in the penalty box. Jon So Yon stepped up to take it, and she got it passed Chavas with ease as the French goalkeeper lunged to the right and the ball zipped to the left. The North Koreans were now in full control with a 3-1 lead. France seemed to trudge along for the next couple of minutes, but things changed at the 90' mark. With regulation over, the announcement was made that stoppage time would be eight minutes long. Hearing such a thing reinvigorated the French squad, whom then began attacking the way they had earlier in the game. They got shots on goal, unfortunately, none of them went in. The Koreans had withstood the re-energized assault. The whistle eventually blew, and Korea DPR was taking their second youth trophy home, as the country had won the Under-17 Women's World Cup as well.
