In a spectacular return to international football, North Korea’s women’s team delivered a commanding 3-0 victory against Uzbekistan in their opening Group B match of the Women’s Asian Cup. The match marked North Korea’s first appearance in the tournament since 2010, showcasing a squad largely composed of players who recently secured the Under-20 Women’s World Cup title under coach Ri Song Ho’s guidance.
The game’s decisive moment came from striker Myong Yu Jong, who achieved a remarkable first-half hat-trick. Myong opened the scoring in the sixth minute through an expertly executed team maneuver. The play developed on the right flank with Kim Kong Yong distributing to Chae Un Yong, whose subsequent cross found Kim’s diving header. The attempt deflected off an Uzbek defender, creating an ideal opportunity for Myong to fire past goalkeeper Maftuna Jonimqulova.
The match experienced a concerning interruption when Jonimqulova collided heavily with a teammate, requiring extensive medical attention and eventual stretcher removal with neck protection. Following a six-minute delay, play resumed with Myong converting two penalty opportunities in the 24th and 41st minutes. Her second penalty, awarded for handball, demonstrated nearly identical execution to her first with a well-placed shot beating the diving goalkeeper.
Uzbekistan’s defense demonstrated significant improvement after halftime, successfully containing North Korea’s offensive efforts throughout the second half. The victory positions North Korea favorably in Group B, which also features defending champion China and Bangladesh.
In related tournament developments, Iran’s team competed under challenging circumstances following recent military actions involving their homeland. Coach Marziyeh Jafari maintained focus on football matters, acknowledging the difficulty of their 3-0 opening loss to South Korea while anticipating their upcoming match against host Australia. Australian players expressed admiration for Iran’s perseverance, with playmaker Amy Sayer emphasizing respect and sympathy for their opponents’ situation ahead of Thursday’s encounter.