Bangkok: DPR Korea secured a semi-final meeting with Australia at the AFC U-16 Championship after edging out fellow former champions Iran 4-2 on penalties following a goalless draw in their quarter-final at Muangthong Stadium on Sunday.

 

Han Kwang-song, Kim Wi-song, Kim Ye-Bom and Ri Kuk-hyon all scored for 2010 champions DPR Korea in the shootout.

But after Hesam Soltanpour and Reza Karimi had converted for Group D winners Iran, both Nima Daghestani and Reza Shekari blazed high and wide to hand DPR Korea the semi-final berth and qualification for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

The game had made a slow start with the first shot on target coming in the 14th minute after DPR Korea midfielder Kim Ye-bom dispossessed Soltanpour in the middle of the park before firing his shot straight at Iran goalkeeper Farid Nejatpashaki from 20 yards.

Iran finally created their first chance of note in the 20th minute as midfielder Karimi tried to curl his shot into the top corner from 25 yards only to see his effort easily held by DPR Korea goalkeeper Ri Chol-song.

Han, who scored in each of DPR Korea’s three outings in Group C, then took down a tricky ball on the edge of the penalty area before turning to create space for the shot, only to find goalkeeper Nejatpashaki had narrowed the angle well and was able to block his goalbound effort.

But Iran created the best chance of the first half eight minutes before the interval as Soltanpour slipped an inch-perfect ball to Karimi, but as the striker closed in on goal, he was denied by a superbly timed tackle by defender Kim Wi-song.

DPR Korea started the second half the stronger and kept pushing for the opener as Han broke into the Iran area from the left and skipped past two challenges before Nejatpashaki saved well from eight yards in the 65th minute.

With 15 minutes to play, Han had yet another sight of goal but his first attempt from the edge of the area was blocked by defender Alireza Aghabarari, and when the ball rebounded to him, his follow-up effort was deflected over the crossbar.

Iran then had their first real sight of goal of the second half in the 77th minute, but Reza Shekeri’s powerful drive from 20 yards fizzed just past the right post.

Then in the last minute, substitute Nima Daghestani had his effort from distance well saved by Ri to send the tie to penalties.