North Korea Dominates Uzbekistan in Asian Cup Opener

Hat-Trick Hero Myong leads DPRK to 3-0 victory

Myong Yu-Jong's first-half hat-trick leads North Korea to a 3-0 win over Uzbekistan in Women's Asian Cup opener. Ranked 9th, DPRK looks strong after U17 and U20 World Cup wins.

Myong, the North Korean midfielder, opened the scoring in the 6th minute with a clinical finish after a goalmouth scramble...

Myong Yu-Jong's impressive first-half hat-trick led North Korea to a convincing 3-0 win over Uzbekistan in their Women's Asian Cup Group B opener. The midfielder opened the scoring in the sixth minute, then added two more goals from penalty spots before halftime.

North Korea, three-time champions and ranked ninth in the world, dominated the game with neat passing and solid defense at Western Sydney Stadium. Uzbekistan struggled, losing their starting goalkeeper to injury and failing to manage a single shot in the first half.

North Korea dominated Uzbekistan in their Women's Asian Cup opener, striking early and putting immense pressure on their opponents. The Uzbek side was already struggling after losing their starting goalkeeper to a neck injury in the 10th minute.

Myong, the North Korean midfielder, opened the scoring in the 6th minute with a clinical finish after a goalmouth scramble. She then doubled the lead with a penalty and made it 3-0 with another spot kick in the 41st minute, showcasing her exceptional skills.

Uzbekistan struggled to get into the game, failing to manage a single shot in the first half. The second half wasn't much better, with North Korea dominating possession and Uzbekistan's defense holding firm to limit the damage.

North Korea, one of Asia's most successful women's teams, is looking to add to their titles from 2001, 2003, and 2008. They're ranked ninth in the world and aiming to make a strong comeback to the Women's Asian Cup after a 14-year absence.

North Korea's momentum from the 2000s was halted due to a ban from the 2015 World Cup qualifying for doping tests, and they went on a long hiatus from 2019 to 2023 because of COVID-19.

Despite setbacks, North Korea, ranked 9th in the world, has bounced back strong, especially with their U20 and U17 women's national teams doing remarkably well. Now, they're looking to make a statement at the Women's Asian Cup.

“I’m happy to have contributed to the team with three goals today. I’ll keep doing my best to deliver even better performances moving forward.”

Hat-trick hero 🇰🇵 Myong Yu-jong reflects on a sensational day in front of goal!#WAC2026 | #PRKvUZB pic.twitter.com/6weLNkButr

— #WAC2026 (@afcasiancup) March 3, 2026

North Korea's youth teams are on fire! They defended their U17 World Cup title in Morocco last year and also triumphed at the U20 World Cup in Colombia in 2024, showcasing their strong pipeline of talented players.

With China and Bangladesh also in Group B, things are about to get interesting. China and Bangladesh face off later Tuesday, and North Korea's next match is against China.