By

Eniola Olatunji

North Korea on Sunday night in Bogota, Columba lifted the U20 world cup for the third time with an emphatic 1-0 win over continental rivals Japan.

Striker Ilson Choe who sent USA home with her lone strike was at hand to repeat her magical prowess in the 15th minute bringing her goals haul to six to also emerge as the highest goal scorer of the tournament abandoning Vendito of Brazil and Maya Hijikata of Japan who were on 5 goals each with her before the final.

It was great misfortune for Japan who lost their last four matches now against North Korea as the players stood fixed to the ground like electric poles though they tried every trick to get late equalizer typical of many games in the tournament having several cramps. The entire country of Japan left to rush in the last free kick of the game leaving only two players at the rear but it was lost. 

North Korea stands as Champions in 2006; in Russia; 2016 in Papua New Guinea and now 2024 in Columbia.

Ref Maria Caputiof Italy who handled Brazil 3 Cameroon 1; Canada 0 Brazil 2 and Columbia 1 Cameroon 0 was in charge of the game at Bogota before a crowd of 36,343 fans.

Japan had on 1st December 2008 at Florida in Chile lost the Women’s world cup quarterfinal to North Korea 1-2; on 10th March 2024 Japan lost by a lone goal to North Korea in the Asian Football Confederation qualifier and also lost to North Korea 1-2 on 16th March 2024 in the 2nd leg in that region. 

To get into the finals, Japan hooked Netherlands 2-0 in the semifinals; piped defending champions, Spain by a lone goal in the quarterfinals; eliminated the Falconets of Nigeria 2-1 in the Round of 16 games; handed New Zealand a 7-0 bashing; beat the Black Princesses of Ghana 4-1 and also won 2-0 over Austria in the group games scoring total 18 goals and conceding only two goals to Africa, scored by Falconets of Nigeria and Black Princesses of Ghana.

Japan tutored Vietnam 10-0 on 4th March 2024; beat China PR 2-0 on 7th March 2024; lost by a lone goal to DPR Korea on 10th March 2024; whipped Australia 5-1 on 13th March 2024 and lost again to DPR Korea 1-2 on 16th March 2024.

Playing the 3rd grand finale games in a row, The Young Nadeshiko of Japan is in their 7th appearances at the world cup won the title at France 2018 beating Spain 2-1; hosted the games in 2012 and won the Bronze defeating Nigeria 2-1; won the Bronze again at Papua New Guinea in 2016 beating USA by a lone goal and at the last games at Costa Rica 2022 she lost in the finals 1-3 to Spain. 

North Korea shocked the team from Maradona’s Argentina 6-2; lashed Costa Rica 9-0; and disciplined Netherlands 2-0 at the group stages before thoroughly thrashing Austria 5-2 at the Round of 16 matches; piped the Samba Girls of Brazil by a lone goal in the quarterfinal and beat the Yankees Babes of USA 1-0 in the semifinal scoring 24 goals and conceding 4.

North Korea in her 9th appearances won the title in Russia 2006 in a 5-0 slam of China; won again at Papua New Guinea 2016 by beating France 3-1. She got the Silver at Chile 2008 when she lost to USA in the final and placed 4th at Canada 2014 losing to France 2-3. 

There were some interesting records like Japan did not fail to score in their last 16 U20 WWC matches except this final and the team won 14 of their last 16 matches in this category.

North Korea had clean sheets (not conceding a single goal in a match) in their last six matches and are the top scorers at Columbia 2024 with 25 goals. The only team to score more in a single edition at the championships is USA with 26 goals at the maiden edition of Canada 2002.