By Bryan Kay
Staff Reporter
It's a victory likely to spark triumphant scenes in Pyongyang, as much for against whom it was achieved as for the result itself.
For North Korea's Under-17 Women's football team was crowned world champions in Auckland, New Zealand, Sunday - after overcoming the United States 2-1 in a grueling 120-minute final.
Kim Un-ju scrambled home the equalizing goal with just 15 minutes to go, canceling out a bizarre own goal which had originated in a long throw-in by U.S. full-back Cloee Colohan. The ball sailed into the area, took a wicked bounce and spun up and through the hands of Hong Myong-hui.
That set up a dramatic extra-time finish. And North Korea got the winning goal midway through the second period, when Jang Hyon-sun latched onto a defence-splitting pass and struck the ball home.
The result was described as a minor shock, as the United States had gone into the game as slight favourites.
But the North Korean women's game has attracted widespread respect in recent times, remaining unbeaten at under-20 and under-17 tournaments since 2006.
The victory is likely to cheer up North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, coming against his arch-enemy the United States.
But the man in charge of the team, coach Ri Ui-ham, was modest in his assessment of the achievement.
"Our only aim when we came here (to New Zealand) was to win and today we achieved that objective. My players and I are happy and proud," he said after the match.
U.S. coach Kazbek Tami admitted the North Koreans proved tough opponents.
"They're a fantastic team and their recent record speaks for itself," he told the FIFA Web site. "To have won a World Cup at U-20s and now U-17s speaks volumes for them as a country and shows how good their youth programme must be.
"If those players progress and fulfil their potential, I see no reason why their senior team won't be every bit as great in the next few years."
In the playoff for third place, Germany defeated England by 3-0.
bryan_s_kay@hotmail.com