Taeguk Ladies to play two friendlies in U.S. in October

United States midfielder Rose Lavelle dribbles past Korean forward Ji So-yun during a game in October, 2019. [USA TODAY/YONHAP]

The Korea Football Association announced Wednesday that the Korean women’s football team will play two friendly games against the United States in October.

The two sides will first face off in at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City on Oct. 21, or at 9 a.m. on Oct. 22 in Korea. The second game will be at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota on Oct. 26, or at 9 a.m. on Oct. 27 in Korea.

The two friendlies serve as an opportunity for the Taeguk Ladies, ranked No. 18 in the world, to cut their teeth against the United States, the No. 1 team in the world.

The women’s team they lost their chance to play at the 2020 Tokyo Games after drawing with China in the final Olympic qualifier in April, handing the neighboring country a crushing 4-2 win on aggregate.

Korea is looking for redemption, but finding it in the United States won’t be easy. The two sides have faced each other 13 times, with the United States winning 10 and the two teams drawing three.

They last faced off in October 2019, an equalizer from Chelsea’s Ji So-yun secured a 1-1 draw.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]