The Korean women's U-17 national team led by head coach Kim Eun-jung was completely defeated by Spain in the 'Defending Champion'.
The women's U-17 national team lost 0-5 to Spain in the second Group B match of the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup against Spain at 5 a.m. on the 20th (Korea time) at the stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
In the 6th minute of the first half, Korea's left footed shot by Seo Min-jung (Gyeongnam Robot High School) following a pass by Casey Eugene Fair (Angel City) was blocked by the goalkeeper. Since then, Spain's counterattack has been strong. In the 7th minute of the first half, Pau Comendador popped up in Celia Segura's cross and scored a header goal. Another crisis struck in the 32nd minute of the first half when Spain endured a wave of attacks. Segura caught Martina González's cross off No Si-eun (Ulsan Hyundai High School) and shook the net with her right foot. He even gave up his third goal to Iris Ashley Santiago in the extra time of the first half, ending the first half 0-3.
In the second half, South Korea fought back, but it was shaken by conceding a penalty two minutes into the second half. Park Ji-yu (Yeseong Girls' Middle School) gave up a penalty kick while trying to tackle Emma Moreno, and Moreno succeeded and 0-4. In the 45th minute of the second half, Spain's Alba Serato was sent off with a red card for excessive fouls, but lost 0-5 in the extra time of the second half, giving up a net goal to Ainoa Gomes.
Spain, which beat the U.S. in the first round as a defending champion, was as strong as expected. Captain Joo Won-eun's absence, who was dropped due to injury at every crisis, was regrettable. Spain, which won its second consecutive game by beating South Korea on the day, confirmed its advance to the quarterfinals early. In the U-17 Women's World Cup, 16 countries will participate in the group stage in four groups, and then the second place in each group will advance to the quarterfinals to compete for the championship. South Korea, which suffered a loss on the day following a 1-1 draw against Colombia, will decide whether it will advance to the quarterfinals or not depending on the results of the final group match against the strong U.S. on the 23rd.
After the game, coach Kim Eun-jung said in a broadcast interview, `Spain is the defending champion, so we expected a difficult game, but it was difficult. It's a pity that I didn't take advantage of the scoring opportunity"I can't be satisfied with my performance, but the players did their best. I will prepare thoroughly for the third game against the U.S. as it is a crisis to advance to the quarterfinals" expressed a strong determination.
Coach Kim Eun-jung suffered his father's injury on the 18th, ahead of the match. It was a sad news two days before the tournament in the Dominican Republic and the match against Spain. As a full-time leader of women's soccer, he worked as Yoon Deok-yeo-ho's head coach at the 2015 World Cup in Canada and the 2019 World Cup in France, writing the history of Korean women's soccer's World Cup Round of 16, and winning a golden ticket to the World Cup in six years by beating powerhouse China at the U-17 Women's Asian Cup this year. The father, who was proud of his youngest daughter's soccer more than anyone else and promised to wait until her youngest daughter returned from the World Cup, closed his eyes without seeing her return. The family sent a message "Mom, sister and brother will send your father well, so you do what you have to do for the players and the country." Director Kim's mother said her father would support her even in heaven, and that she would pray and cheer for her daughter's game on the way to the burial ground early in the morning. The coach and the player did their best, putting off their painful personal history for the country and women's soccer, but the difference in skills was huge. But there is no giving up. In the final match to be held in Santiago on the 23rd, she will take on the last challenge for the future and hope of Korean women's soccer against the U.S.
