"We fought for our lives" North Korea's Violent Soccer Was So Afraid... "Bewildered Boycott → Elbow Price" was eliminated from the quarterfinals after the scandal. "Unexpected"

*This content was translated by AI.

The North Korean women's national soccer team, which was caught up by host Australia, has been at the center of worldwide criticism for its senseless ugliness and violent play throughout the tournament. The atmosphere seems to have been so brutal that even the winning Australian players expressed that they fought for their lives over the game against North Korea.

"After winning the quarterfinals against North Korea, Australia's Caitlyn Toffey shed tears in emotion," sports media Fox Sports said on the 14th (Korea time), adding, "He confessed that he literally fought for his life for this victory."

According to the media, Topi, who was put in the absence of Steph Catley (Asnall Women) due to injury, defended the victory by blocking North Korea's harsh offensive with his body. Toffee, who sobbed as soon as the whistle blew at the end of the game, said, "I felt like I fought for my life to win. I've never felt this way before," he confessed.

North Korea lost to Australia 1-2 in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Asian Cup at Lactin Regular Stadium in Perth, Australia. North Korea, ranked 9th in the FIFA rankings and considered one of the strongest in Asia, tried to win for the first time in 16 years, but was defeated by host Australia.

On the same day, North Korea overwhelmed Australia with 61.9%-38.1% of possession and 21-4 shooting, but cried due to lack of decisiveness. After giving the first goal to Alana Kennedy in the 9th minute of the first half, it collapsed in the 2nd minute of the second half, allowing Samker to score an additional goal. In the 20th minute of the second half, Chae Eun-young scored a comeback goal and went on an all-out offensive, but he failed to reverse the game by scoring only one out of 10 shots on goal. Australia, on the other hand, showed an efficient soccer game in which both shots were scored.

North Korea has caused controversy throughout the tournament for its atrocities outside of common sense. In the last group match against China, he was dissatisfied with the VAR decision and surrounded the referee with an unusual anger, and protested for about five minutes, refusing to return to the ground.

The world was also in a state of shock. The British media 'Guardian' criticized it as "a farce itself," and French media 'AFP' expressed anger over North Korea's murder tackle, which trampled on the opponent's knee, calling it "a vicious act that violates the spirit of sports."

North Korea's misdeeds have been notorious since the past. According to the Australian media 'The Age', North Korean goalkeeper Han Hye-young was suspended after kicking the referee in the back during the 2006 tournament, and in 2010, he protested the penalty decision and left the stadium without permission for 10 minutes.

Australia remained vigilant even before the match against North Korea. Captain Sam Kerr warned before the game that "we should prepare with the feeling of going to war" because of North Korea's senseless behavior and aggression.

North Korea, which was eliminated from the quarterfinals, is now in a position to qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil through the playoffs. The semifinals of this tournament will be given the right to go directly to the World Cup.

The Korean women's team, led by head coach Shin Sang-woo, will face Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals at 6 p.m. on the 14th.

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*This content was translated by AI.