'0 Effective Shots' Korea Suffers Heavy Defeat to Jordan... Eliminated from Asian Cup Semifinals (Summary)

Korean football suffered a complete defeat to Jordan, failing in its challenge for the Asian Cup title for the first time in 64 years.

The South Korean national football team, led by coach J?rgen Klinsmann, lost 0-2 to Jordan in the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Qatar Asian Cup semifinal held on the 6th (local time) at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

Perhaps due to exhaustion from consecutive extended battles in the round of 16 and quarterfinals, Korean football appeared lethargic. During the full 90 minutes, they did not record a single shot on target. The total number of officially recorded shots was only eight for both halves combined. In contrast, Jordan dominated with 17 shots. Korea survived numerous crises to finish the first half 0-0, but conceded goals in the 8th and 21st minutes of the second half, losing the match.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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Coach Klinsmann faced Jordan with a 4-3-3 formation. At the front, Son Heung-min was positioned centrally with Hwang Hee-chan and Lee Kang-in on either side. The midfield consisted of Park Yong-woo centrally, flanked by Hwang In-beom and Lee Jae-sung. The defense was handled by Seol Young-woo, Kim Young-gwon, Jung Seung-hyun, and Kim Tae-hwan. Kim Min-jae was absent due to suspension from accumulated yellow cards. Goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo guarded the net.

From the start of the match, Korea lost the flow. Within five minutes of the first half, they conceded corner kicks on both sides and allowed consecutive long-range shots. During attacking plays, continuous passing errors disrupted the rhythm.

In the 17th minute of the first half, possession was lost in midfield, leading to a counterattack. Jordan’s Nour Alawdeh’s long-range shot was on target, but goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo saved it.

In the 23rd minute, Seol Young-woo’s cross was volleyed with the left foot by Lee Kang-in, but the shot went well wide of the goalpost.

Jordan regained momentum and repeatedly threatened the Korean goal. At the 25th minute, Yazan Al-Naimat’s long-range shot was on target again, but Cho Hyun-woo made another save. Following this, a passing error led to a long-range shot by Mousa Altamari.

Around the 30th minute, Korea had its brightest attacking moment. On the left side, Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Kang-in, and Seol Young-woo exchanged passes, showing sharp penetrating movements. In the subsequent attack, Lee Kang-in and Son Heung-min combined to deliver a cross from the right flank, which Lee Jae-sung connected with a header in the center. Unfortunately, Lee Jae-sung’s shot struck Jordan’s right goalpost strongly and bounced out. This was the most regrettable moment of the match.

The good momentum did not continue. In the 40th minute of the first half, three defenders were simultaneously breached inside the left box by Jordan’s Naimat, who faced goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo one-on-one in a critical moment. Fortunately, Cho narrowed the angle and prevented a goal.

Just before the end of the first half, Seol Young-woo’s low cross connected to Hwang In-beom charging into the box’s center. Hwang aimed for the goal but mishit the ball, causing it to rise.

The first half ended scoreless. Korea conceded 12 shots to Jordan in the first half alone, losing control of the game. Korea managed only four shots.

The unstable flow of the game finally collapsed early in the second half. Park Yong-woo’s sideways pass in midfield was short, leading to the first goal. Jordan’s forward Altamari intercepted the ball and passed it to Naimat, who scored by lifting the ball over goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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Coach Klinsmann immediately substituted Park Yong-woo, who had contributed to the concession, with Cho Gyu-seong. In the 14th minute of the second half, Cho Gyu-seong connected a header from a corner kick in the center, but the ball went just over the crossbar.

In the 20th minute of the second half, Korea conceded a second goal to Altamari. After stealing the ball in midfield, Altamari dribbled alone up to near the penalty box and scored with a low left-footed shot. Despite the number of defenders, there was no active pressure to stop Altamari.

Coach Klinsmann tried to turn the tide by bringing on Yang Hyun-joon and Jung Woo-young in the 36th minute of the second half, but Korea failed to record even a shot on target and ended up accepting the defeat.

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