By

Eniola Olatunji 

Defending world U17 women’s football Champions, La Roja Girls of Spain on Monday morning lost the coveted trophy to rivals North Korea via penalty kicks at the Estadio Felix Sanchez, Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

It was a day the god of the round leather did not stand with Spain who lost two out of their three kicks. Incidentally star player and highest scorer at the tournament Pau Comendador Prado and I. Santiago lost their kicks as Mueno Torress, Ortega Requena and S. Rodriguez scored their kicks.

It was a reverse of the quarterfinals of the 2018 women’s world cup when North Korea was defeated via penalty kicks after 1-1 at full time. That time, North Korea lost three kicks.

Against Spain at Santo Domingo, North Korea scored through K. Ri, P. Jong lost her kick, U, Ro scored, I. Jon scored and while there was tension in the stadium Ryu-Mi Kang scored the decisive kick.

Unfortunate Spain had played 29 games to get to this final both at the European level and the Dominican Republican final winning 27 games drew one and lost this final game by whiskers via penalty shootout. 

Spain had three clean sheets from five matches scoring a whopping 18 goals (highest so far from a team) and conceding 2 goals. USA was yanked 3-1; England given 3-0; Columbia manage a 1-2 loss; Ecuador was spanked 5-0 at the quarterfinals and South Korea got whipped 5-0 in the semifinal.  

North Korea had four clean sheets on the way to the finals meaning the team did not concede a single goal in four of five matches played. North Korea scored 13 goals and conceded only one goal. The team beat Mexico 4-1; beat Kenya 3-0; beat England 4-0; beat Poland 1-0 in the quarterfinals and then beat USA also by a lone goal in the semifinal

The two teams have the highest titles in this category. North Korea won in 2008 and 2018; was runners-up in 2012; placed 4th in 2010; was quarterfinalist in 2014.

Spain lost the opportunity to win the trophy three times in a row having won back to back, that is twice too in 2018 and at the last edition of India 2022; Spain got the Silver in 2014 and bagged Bronze twice in 2010 and 2016 meaning Spain has a higher record.

It was a double victory for North Korea that only on 22nd September at Bogota won the world Women’s U20 title beating Japan 1-0 in the final.
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The stadium was ecstatic when the man Felix Sanchez himself the best ever athlete from Dominican Republic who has won several world athletics titles for the country to warrant being honored with the stadium being named after him brought the trophy into the arena. 

Next tournament will take place in Morocco, Africa next year with 24 teams participating instead of the current 16 and henceforth the competition will be annually instead of bi-annually.   
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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