'U-23' Korea secures quarterfinals with 2-1 win over Iran... China eliminated in group stage

In the 2020 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship group stage second match between Korea and Iran, Cho Gue-sung is celebrating after scoring an additional goal. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Sung-yeol] South Korea secured a 2-1 victory over Iran, confirming their advancement to the quarterfinals of the 2020 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship.

The South Korea U-23 national football team, led by coach Kim Hak-beom, defeated Iran 2-1 in the second match of Group C in the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship group stage held on the 12th at the Tinsulanon Stadium in Songkhla, Thailand.

Having previously won against China, South Korea earned 6 points with this victory over Iran, securing at least second place in the group regardless of the outcome of the upcoming match against Uzbekistan on the 15th, thus advancing to the quarterfinals.

The final standings of Group C will be determined based on the result of the third match between Uzbekistan, currently with 1 win and 1 loss. China, having lost to both South Korea and Uzbekistan, was eliminated from the group stage with 2 losses.

Coach Kim made strategic changes from the starting lineup used against China by replacing seven players right from the start of the match.

In the 22nd minute of the first half, a long-range shot by Maeng Seong-ung was saved by the goalkeeper, but the rebound was quickly followed up and scored by Lee Dong-jun charging in from the right side, marking the first goal. This was a consecutive goal following the match against China.

In the 34th minute of the first half, Jo Gyu-seong received a pass from Maeng Seong-ung and fired a long-range shot with his left foot from the spot, shaking the right side of Iran’s goal net. This powerful shot wiped away the frustration of being on the bench during the first match against China.

Then, in the 36th minute of the first half, Lee Dong-jun’s right-footed shot, after a pass from Jeong Seung-won to the right and a quick run, narrowly missed as it hit the goalkeeper’s fingertips.

South Korea ended the first half leading 2-0 but faced a fierce comeback from Iran at the start of the second half.

In the 8th minute of the second half, Dehghani delivered a cross from the left flank, which Shekari connected with a header after quickly shaking off Jeong Woo-young’s aggressive defense, scoring a goal.

In response, South Korea made substitutions in the 16th minute of the second half, replacing Jeong Woo-young and Jeong Seung-won with Kim Jin-kyu and Kim Dae-won, and shifted to counterattacks against Iran’s offense.

The match ended without further significant events, and South Korea topped the group with a 2-1 victory.

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