In the 3rd round of Group B of the second phase of the Asian World Cup, Japan faced North Korea at home in the National Stadium. Less than two minutes into the first half, Japan got off to a dream start. Yasutoshi Don sent a precise inverted triangular pass near the baseline, which was followed up by Bea Tanaka, who successfully pushed the ball into the goal and opened the first record for Japan. After that, Yasutoshi Don missed a one-touch chance, but Japan still ended the first half with a 1-0 lead.
In the second half, North Korea stepped up their offense in an attempt to equalize the score. In the 48th minute, Han Kwang-sung's long-distance shot from outside the penalty area hit the post and bounced out, while Pak Chung's follow-up shot was disallowed due to a teammate's foul, and the DPRK missed a great opportunity to equalize. After that, the DPRK failed to break the Japanese defense despite several attempts on goal. In the end, Japan beat North Korea 1-0, making it three wins in a row.
This game was certainly an important win for Japan. They managed to beat North Korea with a blistering winner from Bea Tanaka and excellent defense to stay at the top of the group. North Korea, on the other hand, showed some offensive ability, but ultimately lost due to a blown goal and a long-range shot that hit the post.
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