PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (AFP) — South Korea saw off neighbours and rivals Japan 5-4 in a penalty shootout to win the women's FIFA Under-17 world title after the two sides had finished all square 3-3 after extra-time.
The Koreans kept their nerve at the Hasely Crawford Stadium after a see-saw match that saw Lee Jungeun give them the lead after only six minutes.
  PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — South Korea's players celebrate winning the Women's U-17 Soccer World Cup after defeating Japan at Hasely Crawford Stadium here on Saturday. (Photo: AP)  1/1 |
The Japanese responded and turned things around with goals from Hikaru Naomoto and then Yoko Tanaka inside six minutes giving them the lead all inside the opening 20 minutes.
Kim Areum levelled for 2-2 on the stroke of half-time but Chika Kato put the Japanese back in front just before the hour mark only for Lee So Dam to equalise with 11 minutes remaining.
Both sides showed signs of fatigue in a goalless extra half hour before Naoko Wada and Tomoko Muramatsu missed their spotkicks for the Japanese to give the Koreans victory.
Spain took the third place play-off after a Raquel Pinel goal saw off reigning champions North Korea
