Korea Republic got off to a winning start to this year with a 2-1 victory against Czechia.
 

Colin Bell’s charges beat Czechia 2-1 in a friendly in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday, with Ji Soyun and Casey Phair scoring in each half to secure the win in their first encounter between the sides.
 

Having claimed the win in their first official match of the year, the Taegeuk Nangja are up against Portugal in another friendly to be staged in Estoril on Tuesday.
 

Bell opted for a 3-5-2 formation spearheaded by Choe Yuri and Casey Phair, with Ji Soyun, Jang Selgi and Cho Sohyun deployed behind the attacking duo. Jang reached her personal milestone in the process, making her 100th appearance for Korea Republic.
 

Choo Hyojoo and Lee Eunyoung started on the flanks; Shim Seoyeon, Lee Youngju and Kim Hyeri at the back; Kim Jungmi between the sticks. 

Korea Republic surged forward from the outset, with Choe Yuri and Jang Selgi slaloming on both flanks to cause all sorts of problems for the Czech defence. After just four minutes, Choe broke into the right side of the area to drag her effort just wide.
 

The Taegeuk Nangja kept up the pressure whilst exchanging positions across the attacking front, with Choe moving onto the left flank to cause havoc in the opponents’ rearguard.
 

And it was the Koreans that drew first blood after 16 minutes, when Ji Soyun scored her 70th international goal with a fantastic free-kick. The No10 curled a sublime effort over the wall and in off the crossbar, to put her side ahead early in the first half.

Korea Republic found themselves on the back foot on the half-hour mark, as Gabriela Slajsova’s cross from the right resulted in a goalmouth scramble. Miroslava Mrazova and then Alena Peckova latched onto loose balls, only to be denied by timely interventions from Kim Hyeri and Lee Eunyoung.
 

However, the Koreans went further ahead right after the interval. Choo Hyojoo found Casey Phair lurking into the left channel, and then the teenage striker lost her marker to fire a low shot into the corner of the net.

Czechia pulled one back eight minutes into the second half. Katerina Svitkova sent an inviting cross from the left flank, leaving an unmarked Eva Bartonova with the simplest task of tapping the ball in with a clever touch.
 

Korea Republic geared up in an attempt to extend their lead after five minutes. Kim Hyeri’s corner fell into the path of an onrushing Phair, who could only guide her header straight at the goalkeeper. On 70 minutes, Choo Hyojoo intercepted the ball before firing her left-foot effort just wide of the post.
 

They kept up the momentum in the closing minutes. Jang Selgi latched onto a loose ball from a corner on 80 minutes, but her powerful volley ricocheted off the post. Choe Yuri then followed up with another effort that was denied by the goalkeeper, as the match ended in a 2-1 win for Korea Republic.

Women’s national team international friendly

Korea Republic 2-1 Czechia

Goals: Ji Soyun 16’, Casey Phair 46’; Eva Bartonova 53’

KOR: Kim Jungmi(GK), Shim Seoyeon, Lee Youngju, Kim Hyeri, Choo Hyojoo, Lee Eunyoung, Jang Selgi, Cho Sohyun, Ji Soyun (Jeon Eunha 75’), Choe Yuri (Chun Garam 90’+4), Casey Phair (Moon Mira 87’)