Taegeuk Nangja Round-up 19th April

Last week witnessed the Korean Women's National Team in action for the Olympics 2020 qualifier as a new face also made her competitive debut in the US. All that and more in the latest segment of Shibajee Das' Korean Women's Football Round-up.

Image via FIFA Women's World Cup 

Tears for Tokyo

The Korean women's national team were aiming to create history when they faced China in the final Women's Olympic qualifier. 

Colin Bell's girls were trailing 2-1 from the first leg, ahead of travelling to the Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre for the decisive clash. It was always going to be an uphill task but the visitors made a perfect start when they raced into a 2-0 lead at half-time. Kang Chae-rim put Korea ahead before an own goal from Li Mengwen extended their advantage.

However, the hosts staged a comeback in front of vociferous home support. Yang Man brought the Chinese level after bundling the ball home from a free-kick in the 69th minute. That goal ensured that the game would go to extra time. In the additional period, it was China who struck the decisive blow. Wang Shuang drove home from the edge of the area in the 104th minute to send China through.

As for the Taegeuk Nangja, it was a heartwrenching defeat as they came agonisingly close to qualifying for their first-ever Olympics. Ultimately, the team fell just short in their attempts to reach Tokyo.

So-dam good debut

Elsewhere, Lee So-dam made her competitive debut in the US for NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL Challenge Cup against Orlando Pride.

Lee started for her new club at the Exploria Stadium versus a star-studded Orlando side. The visitors were clearly the outsiders away from home in their first competitive outing of the new season. Lee influenced the play in midfield for 68 minutes, before being subbed off.

 

From rebrand to real life 🙌#ORLvNJNY | https://t.co/bONPZnEXuh | #CC21 pic.twitter.com/mUqO9Ko04H

— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) April 14, 2021

 

Paige Monaghan swept home from close range in the 79th minute, in what proved to be the match-winner. This was also the first match since the team changed their name from Sky Blue FC to NJ/NY Gotham FC. And it turned out to be a happy beginning under their new guise for Lee So-dam and NJ/NY Gotham FC.      

Cho's joy is Jeon's heartbreak

Cho So-hyun and Jeon Ga-eul squared off against each other as the former's Tottenham Hotspur visited the latter's Reading FC in Sunday's fourth-round Women's FA Cup encounter.

It was an evenly fought contest at the Madejski Stadium, with the scores tied 2-2 after 90 minutes. That meant an additional 30 minutes were needed to decide the winner. Jessica Naz put Spurs 2-3 ahead on 93 minutes, as Cho So-hyun started and put in a real shift in midfield for 103 minutes until she was eventually substituted.

Jeon Ga-eul came on for the final 15 minutes of extra time but was unable to influence the scoreline as it was Cho's Spurs who moved on to the next round. Tottenham will face Sheffield United in the fifth round of the FA Cup.