Baek Gaon of Korea celebrates after scoring in opposition to Australia throughout the groups’ quarterfinal match on the Asian Soccer Confederation U-23 Asian Cup at King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis Corridor Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saturday. Courtesy of Korea Soccer Affiliation
Korea have superior to the semifinals of the highest Asian males’s under-23 soccer event with a slender win over Australia in Saudi Arabia.
Baek Gaon and Shin Min-ha had a purpose apiece to carry Korea previous Australia 2-1 within the quarterfinals of the Asian Soccer Confederation (AFC) U-23 Asian Cup at King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis Corridor Stadium in Jeddah on Saturday (native time). Luka Jovanovic was the lone purpose scorer for Australia.
Within the semifinals, Korea will tackle Japan, who defeated Jordan 4-2 on penalties within the quarterfinals Friday. The Korea-Japan showdown will kick off at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday (native time) at King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis Corridor Stadium, or 8:30 p.m. the identical night (Korea time).
This shall be Korea’s first look within the semifinals of this AFC event since they final received the title in 2020. The younger Taegeuk Warriors have been eradicated within the quarterfinals in each 2022 and 2024.
Within the different semifinal match Friday, Vietnam, coached by Korean-born tactician Kim Sang-sik, will meet China or Uzbekistan.
Coached by Lee Min-sung, Korea had performed poorly in all three group stage matches and had been lucky to even make it to the knockout stage. Korea misplaced to Uzbekistan 2-0 within the remaining Group C contest final Tuesday however snuck into the quarterfinals when Lebanon upset Iran 1-0 the identical day.
Lee changed 4 members from the beginning lineup within the Uzbekistan match, with Baek, the workforce’s youngest participant at 19, making his first begin of the event.
Korea dodged some bullets early on, with goalkeeper Hong Seong-min denying Jed Drew on a long-range effort within the fourth minute, after which struck first within the twenty first minute.
Lee Hyun-yong caught Australia napping with a protracted ball into the field, and Baek volleyed it residence together with his proper foot for a 1-0 lead — the primary time Korea had scored first on this yr’s event.
Australia appeared to have an opportunity to reply after they have been awarded a penalty within the thirty eighth minute, when Kang Min-jun was referred to as for a handball, however the choice was overturned by referee Fu Ming following a video assessment.
Korea head coach Lee Min-sung celebrates his workforce’s 2-1 win over Australia within the quarterfinals on the Asian Soccer Confederation U-23 Asian Cup at King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis Corridor Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saturday. Courtesy of Korea Soccer Affiliation
Australia did pull even within the 51st minute on Jovanovic’s purpose from a tricky angle.
Australia missed late alternatives to seize the lead, and Shin made them pay by heading residence Kang Seong-jin’s nook to seal the deal within the 89th minute.
Coach Lee thanked his gamers for his or her perseverance in some troublesome conditions all through the event.
“We needed to assault the house behind Australia’s protection and have our midfielders press arduous, and all of it labored out fairly properly,” Lee stated. “After our first purpose, we tried actually arduous to guard that lead. However we ended up making too many errors on protection. We recovered towards the top and have been capable of rating off a set piece.
“We have been enhancing alongside the way in which, and we are going to attempt to carry out even higher within the semifinals,” Lee added.
Baek, who turns 20 on Friday, stated he and his teammates have been capable of regroup rapidly mentally after conceding the equalizer.
“I assumed we would be able to regain the lead,” he stated. “We’re all glad as a result of we really feel like we have made up for some poor performances from earlier matches.”
