The victory in Ciro Vigorito Stadium marks DPR Korea's first gold of Summer Universiade 2019

BENEVENTO, 12 July - With an aggressive attitude, women’s football athletes from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea withstood Japan 2-1 in Ciro Vigorito Stadium, clinching their team’s first gold medal of the Napoli 2019 Summer Universiade. Russia crushed Ireland’s bronze medal dream, beating Ireland 4-2 in extra time to finish out the podium.

Today’s gold medal marks DPR Korea’s third victorious run through the Summer Universiade women’s football tournament, with their previous victories taking place in 2003 and 2007. For Japan, the final was the team’s attempt to win their fifth Summer Universiade gold medal in this event.

DPR Korea’s Jong Sim Wi kicked a scoring goal in the 29 minute, to give her team the early lead. DPR Korea would keep their advantage going into halftime. During the second half, Japan’s Yurina Imai scoring touch brought it to a 1-1 draw. The back-and-forth stalemate continued till the 88th minute when DPR Korea’s So Yon Jon delivered with a hard scoring strike to again give her team the advantage – one that DPR Korea would keep until the end.

With the final whistle, all of the DPR Korea athletes burst into smiles, hugging each other in celebration before proceeding to the centre circle for the traditional handshake with their competition.

The bronze medal match was also a hard battle for Russia and Ireland. Heading into the 71st minute, Ireland was holding a 2-0 lead. But late in the second period, Russia’s Viktoriia Shkoda and Polina Organova scored successive goals, bringing the game to 2-2 draw to the end of regulation time. The game then went to a penalty shoot out, with Russia had better performance, beating Ireland to win bronze.

“The first period was a mess for us” said Russia’s goalkeeper Taitiana Shcherbak. “We didn’t succeed to score the goal, it put pressure on us, and we were nervous at that time.” The Russian coach soon made substitution in the second period, which help the team to overturn the game.

Starting from the next Universiade, football will no longer be as a compulsory sport. Shcherbak expressed her regret to FISU Media after the match .

“This is my last Universiade, and also the last time to see football as a compulsory sport here, I am quite sad that we did not make it to the gold medal match.

“But overall, I appreciate this opportunity,” Shcherbak added. “The Universiade is like a mini World Cup to me. It is nice to compete with athletes from around the world.”

To celebrate this chance to be at the Universiade, goalkeeper Shcherbak even had a special manicure, with the colours of the Russian national flag on her nails (below).

Results

Women’s football

Gold: DPRK

Silver: Japan

Bronze: Russia