Korea head coach Lee Min-sung, proper, watches his group in motion towards Uzbekistan throughout their Group C match on the Asian Soccer Confederation U-23 Asian Cup at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports activities Metropolis Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday. Courtesy of the Korea Soccer Affiliation
With a collection of uninspired performances within the group stage behind them, Korea will tackle Australia of their first knockout match on the high Asian males’s under-23 soccer event in Saudi Arabia.
The quarterfinals of the Asian Soccer Confederation U-23 Asian Cup are scheduled for the weekend. Korea, having completed because the runner-up in Group C, will face Australia, the Group D winner, at King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis Corridor Stadium in Jeddah at 6:30 p.m. Saturday (native time), or 12:30 a.m. Sunday (Korean time).
Coached by Lee Min-sung, Korea squeezed into the quarterfinals after incomes 4 factors from one win, one draw and one loss. They misplaced to Uzbekistan 2-0 of their last group stage match Tuesday however nonetheless grabbed the second seed when Lebanon, thought-about the weakest aspect in Group C, upset Iran 1-0.
Australia received Group D by beating Iraq 2-1 on Wednesday of their last match. China had been on the high of the group coming into that day however they settled for a goalless draw towards Thailand to drop to second place.
Korea didn’t rating in two of their three matches within the group stage. They started the event with a goalless draw towards Iran and needed to rally from a deficit twice to beat Lebanon 4-2. Then got here the torpid loss to Uzbekistan, after which coach Lee held himself accountable for his tactical errors.
Korea and Australia performed two friendlies right here in June 2025. After a scoreless draw, Australia received the second match 2-0.
“Australia are a well-organized group with a fantastic steadiness of offense and protection, and they are often actually bodily,” Lee mentioned in a message relayed by the Korea Soccer Affiliation. “I’ll attempt to get the entire group prepared in order that we are able to symbolize the nation the perfect we are able to.”
The winner of this match will face both Japan or Jordan within the semifinals on Tuesday, additionally at King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis Corridor Stadium.
On the other aspect of the bracket, Vietnam, coached by Korean tactician Kim Sang-sik, will face the United Arab Emirates after profitable Group A with three consecutive victories. The opposite match will pit Uzbekistan towards China.
That is the seventh version of the U-23 Asian Cup and Korea’s lone title got here in 2020.
