'Lee Dong-jun's Theater Goal' Korea Wins 1-0 Against China... Pleasant Start as Group 1st Place

In the first group stage match between Korea and China at the 2020 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship, Lee Dong-jun is cheering after scoring a goal.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Sung-yeol] The South Korea U-23 national football team secured a 1-0 victory over China in the U-23 Championship group stage match, thanks to a dramatic goal by Lee Dong-jun (23, Busan).

Coached by Kim Hak-bum, the South Korea U-23 team won 1-0 against China in the first match of Group C at the 2020 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship held on the 9th (Korean time) at the Tinsulanon Stadium in Songkhla, Thailand, earning 3 points.

With this, South Korea now holds a head-to-head record of 11 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss against the China U-23 team.

Since Iran and Uzbekistan, also in Group C, drew 1-1, South Korea made a pleasant start as the group leader. South Korea is scheduled to face Iran in the second match of the tournament on the 12th.

Three spots for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are at stake in the AFC U-23 Championship. Excluding the host nation Japan, the top three teams will qualify for the Olympic finals.

Throughout the match, South Korea led China but lacked finishing power.

In the 14th minute of the first half, Oh Se-hun connected with a header from Kang Yoon-sung's cross, but the ball went wide of the goalpost, and in the 22nd minute, Kim Dae-won's shot was blocked by the goalkeeper, preventing a goal.

In the second half, South Korea was pressured by China, leading to a frustrating situation. Just when it seemed the match would end scoreless, South Korea scored.

Lee Dong-jun, who was substituted in at the 13th minute of the second half, calmly trapped a cross from Kim Jin-gyu during the 3 minutes of added time, evaded defenders, and then struck a low left-footed shot that rippled the Chinese net.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.