Women’s Group A: Ireland 0 South Korea 3 (S Jang 62,70, Y Namgung 88); Czech Republic 1 Chinese Taipie 1.
(South Korea and Czech Republic qualify for quarter finals. Ireland and China in play offs for places 9-16).
Three second half goals for the hosts South Korea saw the Ireland women’s side go down to another disappointing defeat in the World University Games at Gwangju. Ireland have missed out on claiming a place in the quarter finals after failing to win either of their group fixtures with just a 1-1 draw against Chinese Taipie to show for the huge effort put in all three games.
The Irish and Chinese will now have to be content with playing off for places 9-16 while table toppers South Korea and the Czech Republic take their place in the last eight. The Irish girls served up an excellent performance in a scoreless first half before an enthusiastic home crowd in the hot and humid conditions at the excellent Naju Public Stadium.
The introduction of substitute Seigi Jang on the hour mark turned the game and gave the Koreans added impetus. Spurred on by the home fans Jang struck to fire home two quick goals in the following ten minutes as Irish girls began to wilt in the testing conditions. There was no way back for Ireland and Yeji Namgung added a third goal for Korea minutes from the finish.
Ireland will now take on USA in the play offs for places 9-16 on Wednesday morning.
IRELAND: N Reid Burke (IT Blanchardstown); K Cormican (UL), A Frawley (St Pat’s), J Byrne (NUIG), C Cronin (UCD) R Doyle (Maynooth), D Gorman (UCD), R Graham (IT Carlow), C O’Riordan (IT Carlow), S Rowe (DCU), O Nolan (UCD).
Subs: C Grant (UCD) for Gorman h-t), C Rossiter (Waterford IT) for Graham 57 mins, J A Russell (UCD) for Frawley 62 mins, R Maguire (NCI) for O’Riordan 84 mins, C O’Connell (UCC), J Gleeson (Waterford IT), S Killeen (UCD), E Hansberry (IT Sligo), E Badana (Drexel Univ).