Asian Cup shock loss… Football fans panic as striker Lee Young-jun leaves, leaving them outnumbered… After a poor performance, they lost 10-11 on penalties, finishing his 10th Olympic appearance in a row … Soccer team “profusely apologizes to the people”
The players of the Korean national under-23 (U-23) football team cannot lift their heads after losing to Indonesia in the quarter-finals of the U-23 Asian Cup held on the 26th as an Asian qualifier for the Paris Olympics , making it their 10th consecutive Olympic appearance. Korea, which was tied 2-2 until overtime, lost 10-11 in the penalty shootout. Doha = News
Disaster struck when Korean football lost to Indonesia and was unable to participate in the Olympics. 40 years ago, in 1984, Korea was eliminated from the Asian qualifiers at the Los Angeles Olympics and failed to advance to the finals.
The Korean under-23 national football team, led by coach Hwang Seon-hong, drew 2-2 after 120 minutes until overtime in the quarter-finals of the U-23 Asian Cup against Indonesia held in Doha, Qatar on the 26th, and then lost 10-11 in a penalty kick. As a result, Korean football failed to advance to the finals of the Olympic Games for the 10th time in a row. From the 1988 Seoul Olympics to the previous Tokyo Games, Korea participated nine times in a row, the most in the world. 16 countries took part in this competition, which was held as an Asian qualifier for the Olympic Games in Paris, which opens in July, and the first to third places receive a direct ticket to Paris. The fourth-placed team will play an intercontinental play-off against Guinea in Africa, and if they win, they can progress to the Olympics. The Korean Football Association immediately apologized that day. The Football Association posted an apology on its website and said, “We would like to express our deepest apologies to football fans and the public for our team’s failure to take part in the 10th Olympic Games in a row The Football Association is shoulder the overall responsibility.” “Once again, I bow my head in apology.” Following the elimination of the A team in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup in February and the failure of the U-23 team to participate in the Olympic Games, calls for the resignation of the President of the Korea Football Association, Chung Mong-gyu, are expected to grow again.
Although the performance of Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia has improved significantly compared to before, Korea’s defeat is a shock that is close to panic among domestic football fans . Before today’s match, Korea had won all 5 matches between the national under-23 teams against Indonesia. Team A has a huge advantage with 30 wins, 4 draws, and 2 losses. This is the first time in 49 years that Korean football has lost to Indonesia among all national teams aged 20 or older. The last time was a 2-3 loss in a friendly in 1975. From 26th, Indonesia’s FIFA ranking is 134, 111 places lower than Korea (23rd).
On this day, Korea was a poor game not only in terms of result but also in terms of content. Korea, who first conceded a goal in the 15th minute of the first half, tied the score with an own goal in the 45th minute of the first half. However, three minutes later, in the 48th minute of added time in the first half, a defensive line mistake resulted in a goal being conceded, giving the goal back. In the 39th minute of the second half, Jeong Sang-bin (Minnesota) scored a goal to make it 2-2 and managed to extend the game, but he was unable to turn the tide and bowed out in the penalty kick. Korea was also behind in ball possession (47% to 53%) and was significantly behind in the number of shots fired (8-21).
Lee Young-jun (Gimcheon Sangmu), who was substituted at the beginning of the second half, was sent off after 25 minutes, putting the team at a numerical disadvantage, which also upset the game. Youngjun Lee received a red card for stepping on the ankle of an opposing central defender with whom he had been involved in several physical fights. Lee Young-Jun is a striker who scored three of Korea’s four goals in the three group stage games of this tournament. Coach Hwang also received a red card and was sent off after protesting the referee’s decision in extra time in the second half. Coach Hwang has also been mentioned as a strong candidate for the position of head coach of the A national team, which has been vacant since coach Jurgen Klinsmann was fired. However, with the defeat against Indonesia, he suffered the ignominy of being remembered as a leader who failed to continue Korea’s football record of consecutive Olympic appearances.
Japan, who lost 0-1 to Korea in the group stage of this tournament, advanced to the semi-finals by beating host nation Qatar 4-2 in the semi-finals.
Reporter Kang Hong-gu windup@donga.com
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