Amelie Delabre’s first-half penalty earned France a 1-0 victory over Korea DPR in the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup France 2018 on Thursday evening.

The early exchanges between these two sides were fairly uneventful at the Stade Guy-Piriou in Concarneau, with Christy Gavory’s off-target shot being the only notable chance.

The decisive moment came just before the half-hour mark, as France were awarded a penalty after Ri Pom-Hyang was adjudged to have handled Sandy Baltimore’s cross from the left in the Korea DPR box. Delabre stepped up to beat Young Chollima goalkeeper Kim Yong-Sun with her spot-kick for her fourth goal of the tournament.

Baltimore proved a handful for the Korea DPR defenders in the first half. Just before half-time, her cross from the left found Gavory in front of goal, but the midfielder could not bring the ball under control to finish.

After creating very little in the first half, Korea DPR were brighter after the break. Kim Pom-Ui forced a save from France goalkeeper Mylene Chavas with a free-kick before Choe Kum-Ok was off-target with a strike from the edge of the box. At the other end, Les Bleuettes came close to extending their lead through chances from Baltimore and Annahita Zamanian.

Despite having to withstand some late Korean pressure, Gilles Eyquem’s side prevailed to avenge their defeat to the East Asians in the final of Papua New Guinea 2016 and advance to Monday’s semi-final in Vannes, where they will meet Spain, who defeated Nigeria 2-1 earlier on Thursday.