North Korea has lifted its veil. Appeared at an international competition for the first time in five years. A North Korean female cheering squad, which has been a hot topic at every competition, also appeared.
The North Korean men’s national soccer team, led by coach Shin Yong-nam, won 2-0 in the first match of Group F of the Hangzhou Asian Games against Chinese Taipei held at Jinhua Zhejiang Normal University East Stadium in Zhejiang, China, on the 19th. North Korea achieved victory with consecutive goals from Ri Jo-guk in the 7th minute of the first half and Kim Kook-jin in the 12th minute.
It has been three years and eight months since North Korean soccer appeared on the international stage. North Korea disappeared after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 tournament in January 2020. It has been five years since North Korea participated in an international competition. North Korea has not appeared in an international competition for five years since the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, a unilateral boycott was declared due to COVID-19. At the time, he was suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The suspension was lifted on December 31 last year. Since then, North Korea has gradually appeared in international competitions in various sports. Nearly 200 players were dispatched to this tournament. According to the official information site of the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, North Korea registered a total of 191 athletes (112 women, 79 men) in 18 sports.
The game has begun. North Korea used the 4-4-2 formation. Right wing Baek Chung-seong broke through Taiwan’s flank and often used attacks to support ‘two tops’ Lee Jo-guk and Kim Kook-jin. When the defense was concentrated on Baek Chung-seong, left wing Lee Il-seong found a way to attack. It was a hit. North Korea took a 1-0 lead in the 7th minute of the first half with Ri Jo-guk’s first goal. Lee Jo-guk took a right-footed shot inside the penalty box. The ball hit a Taiwanese defender and went into the goal. Five minutes later, an additional goal was scored. Baek Chung-seong broke through Taiwan’s left flank and crossed. Kim Kook-jin opened the goal with a volley.토토사이트
North Korea is ranked 115th in the FIFA rankings. Taiwan (153rd) unilaterally defeated its opponent. North Korea did not let go of the initiative in the second half. However, there was no third goal. North Korea achieved a pleasant victory in its return to the international competition. They will clash with Kyrgyzstan on the 21st and Indonesia on the 24th.
On this day, a North Korean female cheering squad also appeared at the stadium and attracted attention. North Korean female cheering squads attracted attention by visiting Korea for the 2002 Busan Asian Games, the Daegu Summer Universiade in August 2003, the Incheon Asian Games in August 2014, and the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. At the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, North Korean cheering squads consisting of men and women could also be seen.
Meanwhile, Thailand and Bahrain, who were in Group E with Korea, drew 1-1 in the first game. Bahrain took the lead 1-0 in the 42nd minute of the first half thanks to Husain Abdulaziz’s first goal. However, Thailand tied the game with Purachet Tosanit’s left-footed shot in extra time in the second half.