Japan handed 3-0 win after North Korea call off World Cup qualifier

Japan have been awarded a 3-0 victory after North Korea called off a World Cup qualifier between the sides that was scheduled to be held in Pyongyang earlier this month, Japan’s Football Association (JFA) said yesterday.

The JFA said FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee had informed them that the match had been forfeited, which means Japan are guaranteed a top-two finish in their group which also includes Syria and Myanmar. With 12 points after four games, Japan have qualified for the third round of World Cup qualifiers as well as the 2027 Asian Cup. Japan beaten North Korea 1-0 in another qualifying match in Tokyo this month.

North Korea, which has no formal diplomatic relations with Tokyo, decided not to stage the match in Pyongyang over worries about infectious diseases in Japan and had asked for the game to be moved to a neutral venue. FIFA said the game would not be rescheduled due to the lack of dates on the fixture calendar.

QUICK-FIRE MONACO BREEZE PAST METZ TO GO SECOND IN LIGUE 1

Monaco flew out of the traps at Metz, scoring three goals in the opening quarter-hour as they moved up to second in Ligue 1. Adi Huetter’s side brushed aside lowly Metz 5-2, courtesy of three goals in quick succession from Takumi Minamino, Maghnes Akliouche and Vanderson before Folarin Balogun added a second-half brace either side of Pape Amadou Diallo and Ibou Sane strikes for the hosts.

The win lifts Monaco to second place with 49 points, 10 behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain who travel to Marseille for Le Classique today. Japanese international Minamino gave Monaco the perfect start after four minutes when he turned on Eliesse Ben Seghir’s pass near the six-yard box and rifled a shot past

Alexandre Oukidja in the Metz goal.

Akliouche doubled the lead on 10 minutes, pouncing on Kevin Van Den Kerkhof’s lax touch in the centre circle before driving through the middle of the pitch and rolling a composed left-footed finish past the ‘keeper.

The tie was effectively over just six minutes later when Vanderson guided a stretching volley into the far corner from an Aleksandr Golovin cross. Metz goalkeeper Oukidja gifted Monaco a fourth goal on 76 minutes when he tried a backheel past Balogun, but the striker blocked it with his leg and into the open goal.

Two minutes later, Diallo snatched a goal for 17th-placed Metz to give them hope and Sane tapped home on 84 minutes.

But Balogun settled any potential nerves for Monaco, converting from a corner to send the principality side two points ahead of third-place Brest, who play at Brittany rivals Lorient today.