Hong Kong met up with DPR Korea in Madya Stadium, Indonesia on Wednesday afternoon for an AFC U-19 Championship 2020 Qualifiers Group K battle. Hong Kong scored early in the game but could not hold on to its lead, eventually tying DPR Korea by 1:1.

DPR Korea had a great chance to open the score on the 5^th minute, as a free-kick from the right-side found Kim Kwang Chong. The latter leapt high and dished out a tasty header but just missed finding the target.

Hong Kong took the lead on the 12^th minute, when Lau Ka-kiu had the ball on the right side, shook off pressure from several DPR Korea players and fired the ball past DPR Korea goalkeeper Sin Kwang Guk, giving Hong Kong an early lead.

DPR Korea went searching for the equalizer. On the 25^th minute, Pak Kwang Sok stepped up and drilled a powerful shot that failed to locate the Hong Kong goal.

Past the half-hour mark, Hong Kong came up with a decent scoring chance. Chan Shinichi had the ball under control outside the DPR Korea penalty area, then made a few wonderful moves, found daylight and unleashed a low-shot that was easily smothered by DPR Korea goalkeeper Sin Kwang Guk.

On the 34^th minute, DPR Korea’s Kim Chol Guk made a fantastic run down the left-flank, cut towards the middle and fired a great shot that was well-saved by Hong Kong goalkeeper Lo Siu-kei.

DPR Korea came close to tying the game on the 44^th minute, as Ra Nam Hyon belted a sweet free-kick from the left-flank, forcing out an even better one-handed save from Hong Kong goalkeeper Lo Siu-kei.

Late in the first-half, DPR Korea came close again. This time, Ra Nam Hyon connected with a teammate’s corner-kick delivery but headed the ball over the Hong Kong goal. Hong Kong entered the interval with a one-goal lead.

DPR Korea kept the pressure coming in the second-half. On the 49^th minute, Han Jin Bom knocked a great cross towards the Hong Kong penalty area. Kim Kang Song went dashing in but directed his powerful header off-target.

It was still DPR Korea afterwards. On the 65^th minute, Kim Chol Guk made a great run down the middle, reached the edge of the Hong Kong penalty area and unloaded a ferocious strike, only to send the ball over the crossbar.

However, DPR Korea was not to be denied. On the 66^th minute, Ri Jo Guk made a superb run with the ball and made it to the right side of the Hong Kong box. Ri then found teammate Kim Chol Guk with a neat pass, who coolly slotted it home from the doorstep, tying the game at 1:1.

DPR Korea continued to dominate the proceedings. On the 74^th minute, DPR Korea sent a teasing corner-kick delivery into the Hong Kong box. A Hong Kong defender managed to clear the ball away with a header, only to witness Kim Kang Song stepping up and drilling a rocket shot towards goal. Thankfully for Hong Kong, goalkeeper Lo Siu-kei proved equal to the task and pulled out a one-handed save to defuse the danger.

On the 90^th minute, DPR Korea’s Kim Chol Guk found himself on the receiving-end of a teammate’s cross, then one-timed the ball from inside the Hong Kong box but blasted it over the crossbar.

Both sides failed to add to the score in the remaining regulation time, as Hong Kong and DPR Korea shook hands on an exciting 1:1 draw.