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OTTAWA — All they were saying was "give us a goal" and after a two-game, 180-minute scoreless drought in Group E action at the FIFA under-20 World Cup in Ottawa, the prayers of goal-hungry soccer fans were finally answered as the Czech Republic and North Korea fought to a 2-2 tie.
"It was a much more interesting game than our first one against Argentina," Czech coach Miroslav Soukup said. "Fortunately, our team had a talk at half-time and we were able to fight back and take the lead. In any case, I think the draw was a fair result because we'd lost our shape by the end of the game."
Much to the disappointment of the large contingent of flag waving Czech Republic fans who filled Frank Clair Stadium for yesterday's first match of a doubleheader, it was underdog North Korea and striker Kim Kuk Jin who broke the group-wide stalemate in the 12th minute.
In Saturday's opening games, Argentina tied the Czechs 0-0 and North Korea and Panama also finished scoreless, leaving the teams in a four-way deadlock.
North Korea's Kyong Il Kim, left, and the Czech Republic's Lubos Kalouda battle for the ball during the 2-2 draw. (Jonathan Hayward/CP)
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Kim, who plays for club team Pyongyang, collected a long through-pass from midfielder Pak Song Chol at the top of the penalty area, beat Czech defender Jakub Dohnalek and ripped a shot past diving goalkeeper Radek Petr to give North Korea a 1-0 lead.
North Korea goalkeeper Ju Kwang Min was tested several times in the game, stopping second-half substitute Marek Strestik's fierce volley in the 46th minute and then scooping up Martin Fenin's on-target header on a cross from Strestik in the 51st minute.
Czech midfielder Lubos Kalouda tied the game in the 56th minute, ripping a low, hard shot from the top of the penalty area after collecting a pass from Strestik.
A clinical finish by Martin Fenin in the 66th minute gave the Czechs a 2-1 lead. After a cheeky give-and-go between Strestik and defender Ondrej Kudela at the top of the North Korean penalty area, Strestik pumped the ball into the box to find Fenin, who made no mistake first-timing the ball into the back of the net with his right foot for what appeared to be the game-winner.
"When the Czech Republic were enjoying their best passage of play, we weren't able to keep things tight at the back," South Korean coach Jo Tong Sop said. "That's why we conceded the two goals. But the way we managed to snatch a draw will be great for the team's spirits."
But in the 89th minute, North Korea was awarded a penalty kick after Jon Kwang Ik was tripped in the Czech Republic zone by defender Petr Janda. Jon's initial shot was saved by Petr, but he slammed home the rebound to tie the score for North Korea moments before the full-time whistle.
"I'm very disappointed because even though I saved the penalty, I couldn't get to the rebound," said Petr. "Our only option now is to beat Panama in our final game."
In Friday's final Group E matches, Argentina will face North Korea in Ottawa while Panama and the Czech Republic travel to Olympic Stadium in Montreal for their final game.
