Hong Kong amateur soccer team take on North Korean professionals

An amateur Hong Kong soccer team became the first to take on a professional North Korean team in a friendly match in Pyongyang last week - and the first foreign amateur team to play professionals from the hermit kingdom.

The side from Wanchai Spartans FC got off to a strong start and were up 2-0 by half time, but were crushed 5-2 after the break.

"Within the first 20 minutes we had two goals, but then they started bringing on better players," said Wanchai Spartans' Richard Cowley, who helped organise the trip. "They were good."

Cowley wasn't disappointed with the result, noting the North Korean team was in the equivalent of the English Premier League.

"It was like playing the equivalent of Manchester United, but in North Korea," said Cowley. "They're small, nippy players and technically very good. We're a social team - we drink - and in the end the level of fitness was telling."

Eleven players from Hong Kong and two of the players' girlfriends flew to Pyongyang for the three-day trip, organised by Koryo Tours.