Korea Advances to the Asian Games Men’s Football Semi-Finals after Defeating China 2-0

Korea Advances to Asian Games Men’s Football Semi-finals after Victory against China

Hangzhou, China – South Korea’s men’s football team achieved a resounding 2-0 victory over their fierce rivals China in the quarter-final match of the ‘Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.’

The intense quarter-final clash took place at the Huanglong Sports Center Stadium in Hangzhou on the 1st of September. Celebrating their well-deserved win, the Korean players enthusiastically exchanged high fives, displaying the unity and strength of their team.

Coach Hwang Seon-hong, the renowned leader of the Asian Games men’s football team, offered his assessment of their upcoming semi-final opponent, Uzbekistan. His description of the team was simple yet powerful, emphasizing the formidable challenge South Korea would face in the upcoming match.

Next on their path to the coveted Asian Games title is a clash with Uzbekistan in the highly anticipated men’s football semi-final on the 4th of September at the Huanglong Sports Center Stadium. Uzbekistan secured their spot in the semis after defeating Saudi Arabia 2-1.

The quarter-final showdown against China, a host nation perceived as a major obstacle, required South Korea to maintain their focus amid controversies surrounding biased judgments in previous international competitions held by China.

Fortunately, the match proceeded smoothly without any significant issues, thanks to the referee’s excellent control. South Korea took an early lead in the 18th minute of the first half with Hong Hyun-seok’s impressive free kick. Song Min-gyu further secured their victory with an additional goal in the 34th minute of the first half, resulting in a decisive 2-0 win.

South Korea’s performance in this competition has been nothing short of exceptional. They have displayed an impressive upward trend, scoring a staggering 16 goals and keeping clean sheets in all three group matches. Additionally, they triumphed in all five encounters, including the round of 16 against Kyrgyzstan and the quarter-finals against China.

Boasting the highest number of Asian Games victories (5 times) and the most appearances in the finals (8 times), South Korea aims to claim their third consecutive Asian Games title in this tournament. Their determination will be put to the test as they face Uzbekistan, a formidable opponent in their quest to reach the finals for the 9th time.

Recognizing the significance of the impending match, Coach Hwang emphasized the need for thorough preparation, both tactically and mentally, stating, “Uzbekistan is a team known for their strength, so if we underestimate them, it could prove to be a challenging game. We must be well-prepared.”

Furthermore, Coach Hwang’s cautious approach stems from the awareness that complacency can be detrimental. Urging his team to maintain focus, he emphasized, “Our biggest opponent is ourselves. We must remain vigilant and avoid any lapses.”

Striker Cho Young-wook from Gimcheon echoed these sentiments, acknowledging the team’s positive mindset while stressing the importance of staying alert. In his unwavering determination to conquer Uzbekistan, he stated, “We must remain vigilant and execute the coach’s strategic plan to the best of our abilities.”

With the stage set for a challenging semi-final clash, football enthusiasts eagerly anticipate South Korea’s encounter with Uzbekistan, as both teams are expected to give their all in a battle of determination and physical prowess.

Korean players give a high five after winning 2-0 over China in the quarter-final football match of the ‘Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games’ held at the Huanglong Sports Center Stadium in Hangzhou, China on the afternoon of the 1st. Hangzhou (China) = Reporter Hwang Jin-hwan “A pretty simple and powerful team.”

Coach Hwang Seon-hong, who leads the Asian Games men’s football team, evaluated Uzbekistan’s semi-final opponent this way.

The national team will clash with Uzbekistan in the men’s football semi-final of the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games held at the Huanglong Sports Center Stadium in Hangzhou, China on the 4th. Previously, in the quarter-finals, Korea defeated China 2 to 0, and Uzbekistan defeated Saudi Arabia 2 to 1 to advance to the semi-finals.

Korea previously met host nation China, which was seen as the biggest obstacle, in the quarter-finals. We could not let our guard down as controversies such as biased judgments arose several times in international competitions held by China.

Fortunately, the game ended without any problems thanks to the referee’s neat control of the game. Korea scored first with Hong Hyun-seok’s superb free kick in the 18th minute of the first half, and Song Min-gyu added an extra goal in the 34th minute of the first half to secure a 2-0 victory.

In this competition, Korea shows a fast upward trend. Their overwhelming performance was shown by scoring 16 goals without conceding any goals in the three group games, and then progressing to the semi-finals winning all five games, including the round of 16 against Kyrgyzstan and the quarter-finals against China.

Korea holds the record for winning the Asian Games the most times (5 times) and advancing to the finals the most times (8 times). Korea, which took the top spot twice in a row at the 2014 Incheon Games and the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games, is aiming for its third consecutive Asian Games victory in this tournament.

In order to progress to the finals for the 9th time, we must overcome our difficult enemy, Uzbekistan. It is expected to be a tough match as the team will play with determination and strong physical strength. Coach Hwang emphasized, “This is a team that is fighting for strength, so it could be a difficult game if we face each other as it is. We need to prepare well tactically.”

However, the reason Coach Hwang is more careful than his opponent is because he is careless. As the atmosphere was good recently, he raised his voice and said that we should not let go of tension. Director Hwang said, “The biggest enemy is within us. We must never let our guard down and be careful.”

The same goes for striker Cho Young-wook (Gimcheon). Cho Young-wook said, “We are in a good mood and doing well, but we must not let our guard down,” and added, “I think we will have to do our best as we are doing it and following the strategy prepared by the coach,” and expressed his determination to win the match against Uzbekistan.

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