By our man in Doha
DOHA, QATAR – North Korea’s Under-17 side secured a stunning 2-1 victory over Venezuela in a gripping knockout stage clash at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, with the state-of-the-art Aspire Zone – Pitch 4 in Doha providing the stage for the upset.
The Venezuelan youngsters, heavily favoured to progress, were undone by a clinical performance from the East Asians, who took a commanding 2-0 lead before a late scare.
The match, played under the cutting-edge facilities of Qatar’s premier sporting complex, was an advertisement for the global reach of the tournament.
The Aspire Zone’s multiple pitches and advanced training infrastructure offered a top-class, if slightly understated, setting for the international drama.
A first-half brace from North Korea’s standout player, Y. Kim, first scoring from open play in the 13th minute and then doubling the lead with a confident penalty kick on the 31-minute mark, put the underdogs firmly in control.
Venezuela fought back valiantly, finally breaking through the North Korean defence in the 62nd minute through J. Uribe, sparking hopes of a comeback.
However, the resilient North Koreans held firm, defending their slender lead expertly until the final whistle.
While the stadium’s atmosphere, spread across the sprawling Aspire Zone, might not have matched the roar of a major arena, the quality of football on the impeccable turf was undeniable.
The victory sees North Korea advance to the next round of the competition, leaving Venezuela to rue missed opportunities on the pristine pitch in Doha.
