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Taking a penalty is one of football’s most extreme situations, as it not only represents an excellent scoring opportunity but can also determine the outcome of the entire match. The fateful kick is taken just 12 yards from goal – close enough to give the penalty taker a distinct advantage over the opposing team’s goalkeeper.
“In Brazil we always say that penalties are so important that only the president should take them,” A Seleção’s 1994 FIFA World Cup-winning captain Carlos Dunga once said. While Jon So Yon does not consider the situation to be quite that dramatic, she is nonetheless well aware of its significance. “There’s no doubt that if the ball goes in, it can decide the entire match,” she said, “but it’s always a big responsibility, as the entire team is counting on one player.”
The defender knows exactly what she is talking about, having scored five times for Korea DPR in 11 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup encounters – each time from the spot. She first took on..
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