In 1990, the Dynasty Cup, football tournament of East Asia, is created.
It includes the four best national selections of football in the region, South Korea, North Korea, China, and the Japan.
For the 1st edition, China welcomes the competition, all games of the tournament held in Beijing, capital of the country.
The tournament takes place in two rounds, the first round involving all teams within the same group, the first two caps qualifying for the final.
Logical favourite of the competition, the South Korea out of a World Cup 1990 complicated, with three defeats in three games (6 goals conceded to only a marked). Despite this harsh reality against opponents from a higher level, the Red Devils know that in their part of the world they remain one of the best teams, and can remember their excellent course during the last Asian Cup two years earlier, playing the final against Saudi Arabia (0-0, 3-4 on penalties to defeat). Coached by new coach Lee Cha-Man, South Korea discusses this new tournament with the simple ambition of winning.
Behind the South Koreans, the other three participants are the Japan, China, and North Korea, do not display the same experience beyond the borders of Asia, having for example no participation in the World Cup.
For two of them, the Japan and China, the last big tournament referent is the Asian Cup 1988, with varying fortunes.
For the Great Wall, this last competition has proved once again that it is part of the nations which are in Asia, reaching the semi-final stage (beaten by South Korea 2-1 after extra time). No doubt the men of Chinese coach Gao Fengwen will have in heart to take their revenge and riding the popular enthusiasm.
For Japan, the absence of a professional championship on the territory is a handicap, and the Samurai Blue cannot for the moment that undergo the superiority of their opponents, evidenced by their performance during the last Asian Cup 1988, eliminated in the first round by finishing last of their group without winning any game. It is therefore with humility and caution that the Japanese selection addresses the new competition.
As for North Korea, it is the great unknown of this competition. Having failed to qualify for the last Asian Cup (their last participation in the biggest Asian tournament in 1980), the Chollima begin this Dynasty Cup with nothing to lose, very little experience, but a fierce desire to demonstrate its full potential.
Friday, July 27, 1990, the first edition of the Dynasty Cup begins.
For the first match of the competition, the South Korea confronts the Japan, and after during the first half-hour, Japanese defense cracked first at the 34th minute following a goal by Hwang Sun-Hong. The Samurai Blue returned to the locker room on this score of 1-0, but the hope to return in part off when Kim Joo-Sung emerges and double the score at the 66th minute. 2-0, final score, the Red Devils begin the tournament without batting an eyelid.
In the other game of the day, the Chinese host country receives the enigmatic North Korea. And the puzzle is solved at the beginning of the game, Gao Sheng doing the North Korean net at the 9th minute. The Chollima finished the first half with a goal by delay, but definitely the beginnings of period are difficult for North Korea, and Ma Lin wrong a second time the North Korean goalkeeper a minute after the kickoff of the second half (46th). Score final 2-0 to the Great Wall, which looks a formidable adversary in this competition.
Two days later, the two Korea clash with only one ambition is to win the game. The game was tense, each team has its moment of almost joy, but finally the match file slowly towards the sharing of points, when Hwangbo Kwan startled pleasure his bench and gives 3 points more to South Korea (89th minute). Harsh reality for the Chollima, who held their first point in the competition. For the Red Devils, six points in two games, qualifying for the final of the Dynasty Cup is practically acquired.
For its part, China must win against the Japan to join the final South Korea and him play victory. But the first game served as lesson for the Japanese, and time file on this score of 0-0, when Wu Qunli is the fault 13 minutes from the end of the match, and sends at the same time the Great Wall in the Dynasty Cup final.
On July 31, the last two games of the first round are used for the classification of the group, and while North Korea won its match against Japan with a goal by Ri Hyok-Chon, South Korea won the first round against China with the goal of his young 21-year-old striker Lee Sang-Yoon.
The first round is completed, South Korea finished first in the group with three wins, China is second, North Korea took third place, and the Japan knows a new disillusionment with three defeats in three games and the last place of the tournament.
On 3 August, the final of the Dynasty Cup 1990 sees confront China against South Korea.
26th minute, the match referee whistle a penalty for the Red Devils, stupor in the stadium. Hong Myung-Bo soars and mistaken the Chinese goalkeeper, 1-0 to South Korea. Encouraged by his supporters, the Chinese selection grows back to the score, and finally is rewarded at the 61st minute when Mai Chao equalizes. 1-1, time flies, and extra time do not allow to find the winner of this new Dynasty Cup. It is therefore the session of the penalties that will determine the first winner of this new competition, and at the end of the suspense, the South Korea wins 5 penalties to 4, and proudly raises the first Dynasty Cup in its history.
