North Korea’s women’s football team began their Asian Games campaign in emphatic fashion on Monday, crushing Bangladesh 10-0 in Osaka, Japan.
The three-time Asian Games champions took control from the outset, scoring seven times before the break as Bangladesh struggled to contain their relentless attack.
Hundreds of North Korean supporters in red cheered and chanted throughout the match, after also giving the team a warm reception upon their arrival in Japan.
North Korea are among the leading contenders for the women’s football gold, backed by a strong record at youth international level.
For Bangladesh, the defeat was their heaviest ever in women’s football, surpassing their previous 9-0 loss to Thailand in Dhaka in 2013.
The result highlighted the gulf between the sides, with North Korea, ranked 11th in the FIFA Women’s World Ranking, repeatedly exploiting gaps in the Bangladesh defence through their pace and movement.
Jon Ryong Jong, Chae Un Yong and Kim Kyong Yong each scored twice in the first half, while Hwaang Yu Yong also got on the scoresheet as North Korea went into the interval 7-0 ahead.
Bangladesh coach Peter Butler started several younger players, leaving experienced figures including Monika Chakma, Ritu Porna Chakma, Shamsunnahar and Sheuli Azim on the bench. The approach, however, did little to halt North Korea’s dominance.
North Korea struck after just five minutes and added two more goals within the opening 11 minutes. Bangladesh later switched to a five-player defence, but the change failed to stem the Korean attack.
Shamsunnahar came on at half-time as Bangladesh sought a response, but North Korea continued to create chances. Ri Song A, who was born and raised in Japan, also scored after the break.
More than 100 North Korean athletes are expected to compete in 14 sports at the Games in Nagoya-Aichi, which are officially scheduled to open on September 19.
