The women’s national soccer team won its first official match in 2024 with a new and old combination of Ji So-yeon (33, Seattle Lane) and Casey Eugene Fair (17, Angel City).
The national team led by Coach Colin Bell defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in a friendly match held at Football City Stadium outside Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday. The Czech Republic ranks 28th in the FIFA world, lower than Korea (20th).
Ji So-yeon, who increased her A-match appearance record to 155 matches, opened the Czech Republic’s goal 16 minutes into the match. Ji finished the free kick that her teammate obtained near the penalty arc. The ball that left Ji’s foot crossed the defensive wall, hit the crossbar, and shook the net. Ji’s 70th goal in an A-match.
As soon as the second half began, Casey Eugene Fair dribbled through a solo dribble, kicked the defenders off the field, and immediately advanced to the goal with a right-footed shot to shake the net. It was the fourth goal that Fair has scored while wearing a Korean uniform. Fair was born to a Korean mother and an American father, and joined the A team last year. Bellho, who allowed a goal in the eighth minute of the second half but did not let go of the lead, won the game 2-1.
There will be no major competition for the women’s team in 2024. The team is preparing for the 2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup and 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Korea will have its second warm-up match against Portugal, the home team, on Saturday.