Milan’s Giroud Sent off after Forgetting First Yellow in Win over Spezia

05 November 2022, Italy, Milan: AC Milan's Olivier Giroud (2nd L) scores his side's second goal during the Italian Serie A match between AC Milan and Spezia Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza. (dpa)
05 November 2022, Italy, Milan: AC Milan's Olivier Giroud (2nd L) scores his side's second goal during the Italian Serie A match between AC Milan and Spezia Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza. (dpa)
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Milan’s Giroud Sent off after Forgetting First Yellow in Win over Spezia

05 November 2022, Italy, Milan: AC Milan's Olivier Giroud (2nd L) scores his side's second goal during the Italian Serie A match between AC Milan and Spezia Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza. (dpa)
05 November 2022, Italy, Milan: AC Milan's Olivier Giroud (2nd L) scores his side's second goal during the Italian Serie A match between AC Milan and Spezia Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza. (dpa)

AC Milan forward Olivier Giroud said he had forgotten about his earlier yellow card when he took off his shirt to celebrate scoring a late goal in Saturday's hard-fought 2-1 victory over Spezia in Serie A and was dismissed.

Milan took advantage of Atalanta's stumble in their 2-1 home defeat by league leaders Napoli earlier on Saturday as the champions moved up to second place on 29 points after 13 games by beating relegation-threatened Spezia.

"The important thing is to have three more points in the table, but I'm very angry because I forgot about my first yellow card," Milan's France striker Giroud told Sky Sport.

"The adrenaline and happiness for giving the win to the team played a role, after a tough game. In my head I am still a kid, but I have great faith in my team."

Milan boss Stefano Pioli said he understood that Giroud lost control after scoring the goal which earned the win.

"The fact that we believe in (a victory) so much made us rejoice a lot and you lose control, it means he will sit out Tuesday's game," Pioli told MilanTV.

Milan, who trail leaders Napoli by six points, travel to second-bottom Cremonese on Tuesday.



N. Korea Players Celebrate U-20 World Cup Victory in Pyongyang

Members of North Korea's U-20 women's football team, wave at people from a vehicle upon their arrival in Pyongyang on September 28, 2024, after their victory against Japan at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup final football match, which took place at the Nemesio Camacho “El Campin” stadium in Colombia's capital Bogota. (AFP)
Members of North Korea's U-20 women's football team, wave at people from a vehicle upon their arrival in Pyongyang on September 28, 2024, after their victory against Japan at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup final football match, which took place at the Nemesio Camacho “El Campin” stadium in Colombia's capital Bogota. (AFP)
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N. Korea Players Celebrate U-20 World Cup Victory in Pyongyang

Members of North Korea's U-20 women's football team, wave at people from a vehicle upon their arrival in Pyongyang on September 28, 2024, after their victory against Japan at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup final football match, which took place at the Nemesio Camacho “El Campin” stadium in Colombia's capital Bogota. (AFP)
Members of North Korea's U-20 women's football team, wave at people from a vehicle upon their arrival in Pyongyang on September 28, 2024, after their victory against Japan at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup final football match, which took place at the Nemesio Camacho “El Campin” stadium in Colombia's capital Bogota. (AFP)

North Korea's young women's football team received a thunderous homecoming after their title win at the 2024 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia, AFP footage showed on Sunday.

The country's U-20 women squad returned home on Saturday after their 1-0 victory over Japan to claim the title in Bogota, their third such victory after tournament wins in 2006 and 2016.

The achievement has placed the isolated country on equal footing with powerhouses Germany and the United States.

The players were greeted by their families at the airport in Pyongyang, many overcome with joy, some in tears.

"I am really happy that we demonstrated to the full the honor of the country. We will continue to demonstrate the dignity of the country," said a visibly emotional Chae Un Yong, captain of the national team.

The players were then escorted onto an open truck decorated with flowers and painted with the North Korean flag, driving through the city as they waved to people on the streets.

"They extended thanks to the cheering citizens, reminding themselves of the time when they played games with the warm encouragement sent by all the people across the country," the official news agency KCNA reported.

AFP footage showed a large crowd of people gathering by the truck to shake the players' hands and wave national flags.

The U-20 Women's World Cup win followed years of the country's withdrawal from international sporting competitions due to the Covid pandemic.

North Korea's women's football team holds a strong foothold on the global stage, ranked ninth, in stark contrast to their male counterparts, who are ranked 111th.