This Day in History: 2023-03-14

Nr. 424

NORTH KOREA MUG ITALY (1966)

World Cup minnows North Korea were an unknown quantity when they arrived for their group four campaign in Middlesbrough, but a joyous attacking style soon won the crowds’ hearts. They’d won one and lost one by the time they faced mighty Italy on 19 July and were riding high with chants of «Korea! Korea!» blasting from the stands. In the 33rd minute a powerful header bounced over a flat-footed Italian defence allowing striker Pale Doo-Ik to pounce and drive a half-volley low into the net. Chances of an unlikely Korean win improved further when injury reduced the Italians to ten men and they hung on for an historic victory.

North Korea goalkeeper Li Chan-myung is put under heavy pressure by the ltalian centre forward but he managed to keep a clean sheet.