North Korea Returns to Women’s Asian Cup with 3-0 Win Over Uzbekistan

North Korea marked their return to the Women’s Asian Cup with a commanding 3-0 victory over Uzbekistan, thanks to a first-half hat trick from Myong Yu-Jong.

The three-time champions, playing their first Asian Cup match since 2010, dominated the Group B opener in Parramatta, western Sydney. Myong scored all three goals within 41 minutes before being substituted just before half-time.

North Korea last competed in the tournament after losing the 2010 final to Australia, following a period of doping bans, poor results and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the long absence, the world No. 9 team showed their strength against 49th-ranked Uzbekistan.

The Uzbeks were hit early by misfortune when first-choice goalkeeper Maftuna Jonimqulova was stretchered off with a neck injury in the eighth minute following a goal-mouth collision. By then, Myong had already opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a well-timed right-footed strike from a rebound.

She added a second goal from the penalty spot in the 21st minute after Chae Un-Yong was fouled in the box, before completing her hat trick with another penalty in the 41st minute after an Uzbek handball. Both penalties were placed into the low left corner.

Uzbekistan showed improved defence in the second half but never mounted a serious attack, registering only a single shot on goal compared with North Korea’s 28.

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