Korea Republic women’s national team lost 1-0 against Morocco.

Colin Bell’s side suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Morocco in their second Group H match staged at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide on Sunday. The result put the Taegeuk Ladies in a must-win game against Germany on Thursday evening.

With both sides having lost their opening games (Korea Republic 0-2 Colombia and Morocco 0-6 Germany), they needed to bounce back with a victory in order to finish at least second and advance to the second round.

Bell made three changes to the side that faced Colombia: Park Eunsun started in place of Choe Yuri alongside Son Hwayeon up front; Kim Jungmi replaced Yoon Younggeul between the sticks; Hong Hyeji god the nod ahead of Shim Seoyeon, who eventually replaced Lim Seonjoo who suffered a calf injury during the pre-match warm up, along with Kim Hyeri at the back; Jang Selgi and Choo Hyojoo on the flanks; Cho Sohyun, Ji Soyun and Lee Geummin in midfield.

Korea Republic were dealt an early blow after six minutes when Ibtissam Jraidi opened the scoring with a diving header off a Hanane Ait El Haj cross from the right.

But the women in red fought back with Park Eunsun up front, as Jang Selgi and Choo Hyojoo marauded on both flanks to create chances for the towering striker.

On 20 minutes, Choo’s volley from the right side of the area went wide following an inviting cross from Jang. Moments later, Ji Soyun found Park lurking into the centre of the area, but the latter could only guide her header just wide of the left post.

Jang and Choo caused all sorts of problems for the Moroccans, but at the same time they left space on the flanks for the opponents to break into. Against the run of play, Salma Amani rushed into the edge of the area to fire just over the crossbar on 28 minutes. Three minutes later, Salina Ouzraoui intercepted the ball from Ji to fire wide of the target.

Bell brought Choe Yuri and Moon Mira on for Choo Hyojoo and Son Hwayeon after the interval, switching from a 3-5-2 to a 4-3-3 formation.

Korea Republic took complete control and dominated the game, as they went out all in attack to keep the Moroccans at bay. After seven minutes, Jang Selgi’s inviting cross fell into the path of an onrushing Park Eunsun, but Khadijah Er-Rmichi did well to smother the ball.

Jeon Eunha and Casey Phair came off the bench to reinforce the attack, but Korea Republic still needed a finishing touch to convert their chances. Jeon found Phair breaking into the centre of the area on 87 minutes, but the teenager could only drag her effort just wide of the right post. Six minutes of added time was not enough for them to draw level, as the Taegeuk Nangja slumped to another defeat.

FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia/New Zealand 2023

Group H

Korea Republic 0-1 Morocco

Goal: Ibtissam Jraidi 6’

KOR: Kim Jungmi, Jang Selgi, Shim Seoyeon, Hong Hyeji (Casey Phair 84’), Kim Hyeri, Choo Hyojoo (Choe Yuri 46’), Cho Sohyun, Ji Soyun, Lee Geummin (Chun Garam 88’), Son Hwayeon (Moon Mira 46’), Park Eunsun (Jeon Eunha 69’)