PORT-OF-SPAIN – Hosts Trinidad and Tobago crashed out of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup on Sunday when they suffered a 1-0 loss to defending champions North Korea in their must-win Group A final round match.
Undermined by a third minute strike from Kim Su Gyong, the Trini lasses failed to find the enterprise to carve out a positive result at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
With their second successive loss, Trinidad finished third in the group on three points behind winners Nigeria on nine points, and Korea DPR, who ended in second spot with six points.
With another sold-out crowd on hand to see their hometown girls, Trinidad sealed their demise early in the encounter.
Korea DPR gained a free kick in the third minute and Pong Son Hwa sent her effort into the area for Su Gyong to sneak in on the near post with a crisp low right footer past goalkeeper Linfah Jones.
From there, the Asians remained disciplined in their formation, keeping their hosts at bay for the remainder of the match.
Kim Yun Mi had a chance in the 75th minute but fired the ball over the bar and nine minutes later, Jones was forced into action to keep out Kim Su Gyong’s close range shot.
Jasmine Sampson brought Trinidad close to an equaliser in the dying minutes but her powerful shot on goal was deflected off the crossbar by the Korean goalkeeper Choe Kyong Im.
In the quarter-finals, North Korea will now play Germany, while Nigeria tackle South Korea on Thursday at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.
Germany topped Group B after a comfortable 3-0 win over South Korea in the first match at the Larry Gomes Stadium, while Mexico ended the tournament on a high, beating South Africa 4-0 in the first match at the Ato Boldon Stadium. (CMC/JM)
