Kim Pom Hyok struck twice to guide defending champions North Korea to a convincing 2-0 victory over Yemen in the Group D match of the AFC U-16 Football Championship, here today.
The first half was fought on even terms as neither team able build able to make constructive moves.
Yemen came close to scoring in the 21st minute, when Murad Murshed played a one-two with Abdullah Hussein Zahrah splitting the defence but his feeble shot went straight into the hands of goalkeeper Sin Tae Song.
North Korea failed to combine as a team in the first half but came back strongly in the second half after coach Yun Jong Su made a tactical change pushing defender Kim upfront in the second half.
They looked more thrustful in the attack as Kim put his team up in the 59th minute, when he collected a long ball inside the box and got the better or rival defender Ahmed Abdulghani before placing the ball into the back of the net.
The two-time champions used their height well and played more long balls. Kim doubled the lead in the 75th minute when his swerving free-kick went in.
He could have nearly scored a hat-trick but his powerful header from a corner taken from the left by Yun Min was saved by rival keeper Mohammed Al Baadani.
Yemen, who made last effort to pull one back was awarded a penalty after Muneef Jassar was brought down inside the box by North Korean defender.
Muneef, who himself took the kick, saw his effort saved by diving keeper Sin Tae Song to his right.
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