Japan oust champs North Korea 2-1

Japan will now meet South Korea in Saturday’s all-Asian final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, while North Korea will have to be content with a third-place play-off against Spain.

A minute after Japan equalised in the 70th, Yokoyama collected a ball from midfielder Yoko Tanaka and, with no teammate in sight, she simply took it upon herself to weave and slither her way past five defenders before placing her right-footer to Choe Kyong Im’s near post.

That goal sparked mass pandemonium in the stands and proved to be the decisive one as Japan booked a spot in Saturday’s decider.

Kim Kum Jong put North Korea in front after 59 minutes, as she reacted first to a goal-keeping blunder from Eri Hirao to poke her shot home.

But Hikari Takagi leapt above the defence to head home a centre from Haruka Hamada for the equalising goal.

Yokoyama’s sensational effort ended North Korea’s title reign, however, after they were victorious at the inaugural tournament in New Zealand two years ago.

Both teams made a change apiece from their quarter-final line-ups, with Mai Kyokawa returning to the Japan starting eleven in place of Yokoyama and Pak Kyong Mi at the left-back position for North Korea instead of Song Im.

North Korea progressed this far by dint of a rigid and systematic approach, and they needed such doggedness to deal with Japan’s dominance in possession throughout the first-half. However, the 2008 champs had the first good chance at goal, as forward Kim Kum Jong rose to head Pong Son Hwa’s cross straight to arms of Hirao.

But Japan turned on the style, especially when Yokoyama was brought on for left-back Ayu Nakada after 32 minutes, with Hamada dropping back to left wing-back.

Before then, Mai Kyokawa directed Naoko Wada’s free-kick against the bar while Haruna Kawashima got a ball from Wada, lifted the ball with one motion but drove her right-footer high.

Yokoyama was picked out on the left and sent her diagonal right-footer wide of Choe Kyong Im’s left-post, before North Korea won a free-kick, after Takagi’s foul on Kim Su Gyong.

The resultant free-kick by Kim Yun Mi was bundled by the goalie and Kim Kum Jong was on hand to tap the ball into the net.

Ten minutes later, North Korea failed to deal with Takagi’s corner, which was missed by Kyokawa, and Hamada tracked the ball and sent her right-footer to the head of Takagi to tie the scores.

And, a minute later, Yokoyama’s heroic solo run ensured that Japan will have the right to battle for the coveted title.

Teams: NORTH KOREA: Choe Kyong Im; Ri Un Gyong, Km Un Ha, Pak Kyong Mi, Pong Son Hwa (Jo Jong Sim 42nd); Kang Ok Gum, Choe Jong Hwa (Kim Yun Mi 53rd), Kim Nam Hui, O Hui Sun (capt); Kim Kum Jong, Kim Sui Gyong (Ri Yong Mi 84th).

JAPAN: Eri Hirao (capt); Hikari Takagi, Tomoko Muramatsu, Naoko Wada, Ayu Nakada (Kumi Yokoyama 32nd); Yoko Tanaka, Haruka Hamada, Chika Kato, Hikaru Naomoto; Mai Kyokawa, Haruna Kawashima (Mina Tanaka 68th).