Japan and North Korea locked horns at the Women’s Olympic Qualifying Asia. Korea DPR ended up losing 2-1 at Japan National Stadium. This gave Japan a spot in the Paris Olympics. This was the first time a football team from the region visited Japan in seven years. They were previously scheduled to come face-to-face in 2021; however, North Korea declined the invitation, citing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.
They finally met at the conclusion of the last leg of the tournament. Japan scored in the first half and second half. Korea made all reasonable attempts to tie the score, but a significant time difference prevented them from doing so. Hye-Yong Kim found the back of the net only in the 81st minute. Hana and Aoba had already done the job for the Japanese side in the 25th and 76th minutes, respectively.
Japan took a total of 13 shots in their 90-minute run on the field. So did North Korea, but Japan could better capitalize on the moments. Three shots went to the target, and two of them got converted into a point. Dominance was evident in terms of possession. Japan held the match under their control for 54% of the time, while North Korea held the remainder.
Japan also held the football match under their discipline. The side did not register a single yellow or red card. North Korea got three yellow cards.
The Paris Olympics are scheduled to happen from July 26, 2024, to August 11, 2024. They have officially been termed the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad. 10,500 athletes are participating in 28 sports and 329 events. Additionally, online football betting sites are abuzz with predictions and odds as fans eagerly await the outcomes of their favorite teams and players on the football field. Japan and North Korea had a goalless tie in the first leg of the tournament.
Simultaneously, Uzbekistan and Australia posed a more interesting pair of legs, with the final aggregate of 13-0 in favor of the Aussies. The first leg between the sides saw Australia treat their opponent to a 3-0 defeat at Bunyodkor Stadium. All the goals were scored in the second half, leaving the first half empty for the fans to wonder if the Aussies have a plan to clinch victory. They did have one, for dominance was featured through their majority of possession (71%), along with an aggressive attack on 27 shots.
The second leg marked a massive win for them at Marvel Stadium. Not a single minute was wasted to establish that no one was better than them on the football field. Interestingly, Dilrabo scored the first goal as an OG in the first minute. An aggressive strike in the next 10 minutes, followed by a double by Heyman.
She did not go easy and scored another goal in the 16th minute. Japan is now gearing up to meet the USA in the semi-final of the SheBelives Cup on April 6, 2024, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
