Korea DPR 3-0 Uzbekistan (Mar 3, 2026) Game Analysis
North Korea‘s Myong Yu-Jong scored a hat trick as her nation made a triumphant return to the Women’s Asian Cup with a 3-0 thumping of Uzbekistan.
The Koreans, of their first Asian Cup match since 2010, dominated the Uzbeks within the Group B opener in Parramatta in western Sydney on Tuesday.
Myong netted her hat trick within the preliminary 41 minutes — she was then benched simply earlier than half-time — in an ominous show from the three-time champions.
North Korea, who gained titles in 2001, 2003 and 2008, have not featured within the cup since shedding the ultimate to Australia in 2010.
The absence got here amid a interval together with doping bans — 5 gamers examined optimistic to prohibited substances on the 2011 Women’s World Cup and the nation was banned from the following international cup 4 years later — poor outcomes, and the COVID pandemic.
But the world No. 9 ranked outfit flexed their collective muscle towards the world No. 49 Uzbeks, who not solely misplaced the sport but additionally misplaced their first-choice goalkeeper to harm.
Shot-stopper Maftuna Jonimqulova He was stretched from the sphere with a neck harm in simply the eighth minute after a teammate fell on him throughout a goal-mouth scramble. By that point, the Uzbeks had been already in herds after Myong scored the opening purpose six minutes into the sport. The Korean attacker fired a sweetly-timed right-footer into the web when a rebound fell to her about seven meters from purpose.
Myong scored once more from the penalty spot within the twenty first minute after his teammate Chae Un-Yong was shoved within the again and felled by Uzbekistan’s Zarina Mamatkarimova.
And within the forty first minute, the Korean accomplished her hat trick with one other penalty after an Uzbek handball within the field; Myong repeated his preliminary spot-kick, once more taking pictures into the low left nook of the web.
The Uzbeks confirmed better defensive metal within the second half however by no means threatened in assault — they managed one shot on purpose within the match; the Koreans had 28.
