This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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Lee Geum-min scored twice as Korea Republic cruised to 4-2 victory over Australia at Thanh Long Sports Centre and claimed fourth place in the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship.
Choi Yoo-jung and Seo Hyun-sook were also on target to secure victory for Korea despite replies from Tara Andrews and Ashley Brown.
There was little to play for but pride in this match with both sides failing to qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup following disappointing campaigns. The result means Australia will finish second bottom of the group with just three points from their opening victory over hosts Vietnam.
Korea began the brighter and could have scored twice in the first 10 minutes with Choi and Kim Ji-eun guilty of missing good chances. The Australians offered little as an attacking force but were perhaps unlucky not to win a penalty after Ashley Brown’s cross hit Kim Ji-ye on the arm but referee Ri Hyang-Ok waved away the appeals.
The Koreans continued to probe for a goal and should have scored in the 21stminute when Yeo Min-ji missed from six yards.
Centre-back Rebekah Stott was caught in possession by Yeo, who exchanged passes with Kim Ji-eun but fired over from close range with keeper Brianna Davey stranded.
Korea got the goal their dominance merited in the 27th minute when a free-kick found Moon Mi-ra in the box and her flicked header struck the post. The ball bounced out, hit Davey on the back and rolled along the line with Choi Yoo-jung reacting quickest to prod the ball home.
They almost doubled their lead shortly before the break when Yeo’s cross found Kim Ji-eun but her shot skimmed past the right-hand post.
The Australians emerged rejuvenated after the break and were level within four minutes of the restart. Left winger Brown brought the ball inside and slipped Andrews through on goal. The striker then waited for keeper Kim Mi-nah to commit and calmly slotted in to equalise.
In a frenetic next 10 minutes, both sides went agonisingly close to taking the lead. A Korean corner was flicked on by Kim Ji-hye and Lee Jung-eun’s left-foot drive clipped the bar.
Then a long ball found Andrews behind the Korea defence, she flicked the ball around Kim Min-ah but skewed wide with the goal at her mercy.
Yet Korea gradually regained the momentum and retook the lead in the 66th minute when Choi’s corner was headed in by substitute Lee Geum-min. They extended their lead just a minute later when right-back Seo’s cross flew straight into the right-hand side of Davey’s goal.
Australia clawed their way back into the game when substitute Marianna Tabain’s deep cross found Brown and she volleyed in from a few yards out.
The Australians then pushed for an equaliser but within two minutes, the two-goal lead was restored when Choi’s fantastic cross from deep was headed in by Lee Geum-min.
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