A dramatic Cyprus Cup final saw North Korea take Italy to penalties despite two red cards, before winning the shoot-out 7-6 in sudden death.
Placement matches results:
11th place – Slovakia 2-3 Hungary
9th place – Finland 3-0 South Africa
7th place – Nigeria 3-0 Thailand
5th place – Czech Republic 1-2 Mexico
3rd place – Austria 0-0 Belgium (2-3 on pens)
Final – North Korea 3-3 (aet) Italy (7-6 on pens)
The final saw Cristiana Girelli put Italy in front but North Korea led 2-1 at half time through goals from Kim Yun-mi and Ju Hyo-sim despite Kim Nam-hui being sent off in-between. Daniela Sabatino struck 10 minutes from the end of normal time but Jon Yun-so had the Koreans 3-2 up in extra time before Ri Hyang-sim also saw red and Valentina Cornoia’s goal led to the shoot-out, only for the Koreans to win in sudden death.
Austria and Belgium played out a goalless draw and when it came to the shoot-out, it was the Red Flames who profited 3-2.
Mexico pipped Czech Republic to fifth place by two goals to one, with all the drama coming in around a dozen minutes either side of half time. With a penalty missed, Mexico quickly took advantage through Jacqueline Ovalle and even though Jitka Chisastakiva equalised Simona Necidova soon put through her own net.
Nigeria took seventh position when sending Thailand to a 3-0 loss, Asisat Oshoala and Onome Ebi striking in the space of five first-half minutes and Anam Imo adding a third after the interval.
Finland finished ninth with a 3-0 defeat of South Africa, Katarina Naumanen’s first-half effort added to by Iina Salmi and Olga Ahtninen.
Hungary came from behind to take eleventh spot with Slovakia down to ten by the end. Jana Vojtekova opened the scoring but Julia Nemeth and Anita Pinczi replied in a six-minute spell, with Evelin Mosdoczi then conceding an own-goal to make it all square at the break. Zsanett Jakabfi completed the scoring early in the second half and Andrea Horvathova saw red in added time.
