North Korea wrote their name into football history by becoming the first-ever winners of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, coming from behind to beat the US 2-1. It was the first time the US had been defeated by an Asian team in the final of a women's FIFA competition. They had never lost to Asia before. They won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics and the 1999 World Cup -- both times against China. The climax to this tournament's excellent inaugural edition drew a remarkable attendance of 16,162, breaking the record for a women's sporting event and eclipsing the previous benchmark set in the competition's opening match. With nerves understandably a factor, this bumper crowd weren't treated a classic final, but there was certainly no shortage of drama as the North Koreans claimed victory deep into extra time. It had all promised to turn out so differently when the Americans raced into the lead after just two minutes in somewhat farcical fashion. Cloee Colohan launched a long throw into the heart of the Korea area and on a windy afternoon at North Harbour Stadium, the normally reliable Hong Myong Hui misjudged the bounce and ultimately succeeded only in helping the ball on its way into the net. The irony, of course, was that the goal would not have stood had Hong merely allowed it to drop in the net. Lesser sides would have been floored by such a sickening early blow, but not the North Koreans. With time seemingly running out and the US 14 minutes from glory, substitute Ri Un Ae crashed a 30-yard free-kick against the underside of the crossbar and Kim Un Hyang headed home the equaliser in the ensuing scramble. That took the game to extra time and provided the platform for Korea to take the trophy in the most dramatic fashion, Jang Hyon Sun stepping inside Colohan before rifling a low right-foot shot beyond Vancil from the edge of the box to win the cup. Before that game, Korea and the US had never met at youth level in a FIFA women's competition although this was already their third encounter overall. The two associations met at group stage in the last three FIFA Women's World Cups with the Americans winning in 1999 and 2003 and Korea getting a 2-2 draw last year in Chengdu, China. Korea clearly had the best defence in this competition. They conceded only four goals in five matches (the US twice as many). The North Korean preliminary competition record was even more impressive: two goals in four matches (against the likes of Japan and South Korea). It was the seventh time (out of 13 occasions) that the US had qualified for the final of a FIFA competition, although only the second time in a youth competition. In all other competitions the Americans have gone through to the semi- finals, making them by far the most successful association in women's world football. The US have now qualified for their third final (out of four) in the first edition of FIFA women's competitions: the World Cup 1991, the Olympic football tournament 1996 (both won) and the 2004 U-20 Women's World Cup, where they were defeated in the semi- final. This is the sixth time that an AFC team has qualified for the final of a FIFA women's competition. China qualified four times, but was always defeated (Olympic football tournament 1996, World Cup 1999, U-20 2004 and 2006). Korea won the title in the last U-20 final in 2006. Germany took their place on the New Zealand 2008 podium with a comfortable 3-0 victory over England in a one-sided third-place play-off. Bitterly disappointed to have missed out on the final, Ralf Peter's side took their frustration out on a Lionesses side who, despite their best efforts, rarely threatened the German goal. This all-European showdown rarely had the pulse racing but it did get to a bright start, with Inka Wesely ghosting in unmarked to head home a Dzsenifer Marozsan corner after just 11 minutes. Germany were firmly in control at this stage and would have doubled their lead six minutes from the break but for an excellent save from Lauren Davey to deny Marozsan at point- blank range. England's best effort came in the shape of a late, long-range Jordan Nobbs effort that crashed back off the bar, but generally it was one-way traffic, with the European champions deservedly doubling their lead after 74 minutes. Again, England failed to contain Wesely at a corner, and the big defender was able to knock down for Turid Knaak to sweep the ball into the net from all of four yards. There was even time for Germany to increase their advantage in the dying minutes, Lynn Mester scoring at the second attempt following some terrific approach play from Carolin Simon.
