The 2014 Hwaebul Cup was the second edition of the Hwaebul Cup (ðë¶Â, Torch) celebrating North Korea's Youth Day. The competition was held from 10 to 28 August 2013, with all matches played at the Yanggakdo Stadium in P'yà Ângyang. The competition was arranged in two phases, a group stage followed by a single-elimination play-off semi-finals, and a single-game final.
Thirteen teams took part in the group stage, with seven in Group A and six in Group B.
Group A was made up of Hwaebul, Kyà Ânggong'à Âp, Kwanmobong, Wà Âlmido, April 25, Amrokkang, and Ryong'aksan. The group stage opened with a match between Hwaebul and Kyà Ânggong'à Âp on 10 August. Hwaebul, considered heavy favourites at the start of the tournament, won with a convincing 3âÂÂ0 score, going on to win their next three matches against Kwanmobong (5âÂÂ0), Wà Âlmido and April 25 (1âÂÂ0). April 25 had started out the competition by winning their first four matches, 4âÂÂ1 against Amrokkang, 3âÂÂ1 against Kyà Ânggong'à Âp, 3âÂÂ0 against Ryong'aksan, and 3âÂÂ0 against Kwanmobong. Ryong'aksan had started off with a 3âÂÂ2 win over Kwanmobong, whilst Wà Âlmido and Amrokkang drew 1âÂÂ1 in their opening match. Hwaebul and April 25 went on to advance to the semi-finals.
Table based on known results.
Group B included Sobaeksu, P'yà Ângyang City, Myohyangsan, Ponghwasan, Rimyà Ângsu, and one other club. Rimyà Ângsu had been tipped as favourites, but the opening match of the group, that they played against Sobaeksu, surprised observers with a 3âÂÂ2 result in favour of Sobaeksu on 15 August. The group was topped by Sobaeksu and P'yà Ângyang City, both of which had had two wins and two draws in their first four matches.
Table based on known results.
Hwaebul and April 25 qualified for the semi-finals from Group A, and Sobaeksu and P'yà Ângyang City from Group B; the first-place finisher of each group played the second-place team from the other group. April 25 and Hwaebul won their matches to advance to the final.
Hwaebul and April 25 advanced to the final, which was played at Yanggakdo Stadium on 28 August, with April 25 emerging victorious with a 1âÂÂ0 score.