Korea DPR vs Qatar Match Report
Match Day Two of the Asian World Cup Qualifiers (Round Three) pitted two winless teams against each other on neutral territory.
Amid VAR delays, thunderstorms, and a 30-minute rain delay, we witnessed a World Cup qualifying classic between Korea DPR and Qatar in Vientiane, Laos, on matchday two. The share of spoils ultimately means both teams remain winless, but the nominated home team will be the happier after spending over an hour with 10 men following a first-half sending-off of North Korean captain Jang Kuk-chol. The two goals from Korea DPR, starting and finishing the scoring, were enough to justify a draw, but the Koreans deserve credit for rallying from a goal and a man down at halftime, with the conditions in their favor. Qatar couldn’t make their dominance count despite over 70% possession and 20 shots compared to Korea’s 10. The Maroons’ campaign has not started well after a home defeat to the U.A.E., as they look to qualify for their first World Cup outside their home land. Meanwhile, the Chollima will be pleased with two good performances against the odds, following a spirited 1-0 defeat away in Uzbekistan in the previous game.
During the pre-match press conference, Korean DPR coach Sin Yong-nam said they had started too slowly against Uzbekistan, so he must have been pleased when a sprightly North Korea started on the front foot and pressed high in their usual 4-4-2 formation. However, it wasn’t long before Qatar began to settle.
brahim Al-Hassan had the best chance of the opening ten minutes, in a move remarkably similar to the one Uzbekistan had made for the only goal of their meeting with North Korea on MD1. This time, though, Al-Hassan fluffed his lines, connecting poorly despite being in tons of space from Akram Afif’s pullback to the edge of the box.
North Korea’s first effort on target came moments later. Set pieces had been a key component of Korea’s attacking play against Uzbekistan, and today would be no different, with the addition of long-range shooting. A short free kick found left-back Kim Pom-hyok in space, and his 35-yard dipper was well tipped over by Meshaal Aissa Barsham in the Qatari net.
Qatar’s all-time top scorer, Almoez Ali, struck the post on the 15th-minute mark as Choe Ok-chol continued his struggles defending the right side of the Korean backline. It wasn’t long after that North Korea took the lead against the run of play with a spectacular strike from Ri Il-song. Korea DPR’s youngest player at 20 rocketed the ball into the top corner after cutting in from the left from all of 25 yards, giving Barsham no chance, and Ri his first international goal.
A surprise lead for the underdog over reigning Asian Cup champions Qatar didn’t last long. Qatar earned a penalty in the 25th minute, after a lengthy VAR check, for a pull-back on Arif by Jang Kuk-chol, who received his marching orders for preventing a goal-scoring opportunity. The 61-time capped veteran, whose slip had kept Ali onside in the move leading up to the penalty, didn’t take the news well, and the whole North Korean team demanded the Malaysian official go to the VAR screen; the protest lasted the best part of 5 minutes. The Qatari captain, Afif, dusted himself off to convert the penalty and equalize for the West Asian side.
With the Koreans forced into a personnel change and Qatar themselves bringing on more attacking players, the home side were left longing for halftime and some respite. But Qatari pressure told on the 44th minute with a superb rasping strike from Ali from the edge of the box into the opposite top corner. At 2-1 up and a man up, you might have thought that what was an excellent first half of football would turn into a foregone conclusion in the second half, but the entertainment was only ramping up.
It’s a shame that the entertainment on the pitch was in the neutral venue of Laos, where Korea DPR are playing their home games since the sudden withdrawal of hosting duties before their Round Two qualifier with Japan, citing concerns about a virus making the rounds in their neighboring country. A small band of North Korean fans, no more than 150, were huddled together in the cavernous 25,000-capacity New Laos National Stadium with an away support of a roughly similar size.
However, as the heavens opened at halftime and the second half started in pouring rain, it was perhaps a good thing that the fans didn’t have to endure the subsequent 30-minute rain delay as well as the soaking conditions. The appalling conditions seemed to galvanize the Koreans, as their direct play began to produce results. Ri went close in the 50th minute, with Qatar’s number one parrying his low effort from outside the box. That chance led to a free kick and then a Roberto Carlos-esque moment. Kang Kuk-chol may not be deadly from 12 yards, as evidenced by his weak penalty saved in the opening fixture against Uzbekistan, but he’s lethal from 35 yards. One of the best free kicks you’ll see.
Qatar substitute Ismael Mohammad almost replied immediately with a low shot from inside the box sent just wide of the keeper’s near post. At this point, there was standing water on the pitch, and the Qatari possession game was struggling, effectively evening up the 11 vs 10. Due to the conditions, the referee halted the match in the 58th minute for 30 minutes.
After the restart, it was North Korea on the attack. Paek Chung-song was proving an important outlet on the counter down their right. His pace and strong endeavor almost led to Pedro Miguel, on his 91st cap for Qatar, scoring an own goal. Miguel’s fellow 34-year-old and partner at the back, Lucas Mendes, almost got the winner at the right end. His 87th-minute thunderous volley from a corner was well saved by Kang Ju-hyok through a host of bodies.
The rain returned for the final moments, and Korea DPR continued to carry a threat on the counter through Paek. His pass led to Choe Ju-song shooting just wide. A frustrated Qatar were being forced into shots from outside the box as North Korea clung on desperately. The final act came as Qatari star man Afif sent his effort from the edge of the box agonizingly wide.
An enthralling contest that had everything ended with both sides getting their first point of the campaign, but their feelings on the result were much different.
MOM - Ri Il-song (Korea DPR)
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Great report, Ross.