(MHN Sports Reporter Geum Yun-ho) Korean soccer will not be able to play at the Olympics for the first time in 40 years.
The Korean Olympic soccer team, led by coach Hwang Seon-hong, defeated Indonesia 2-2 in 90 minutes in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Asian Cup held at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar on the 26th. We ended up losing after a draw and a penalty shootout.
As a result, Korea, which set a world record for the most consecutive Olympic appearances (9), aimed to advance to the finals for the 10th consecutive time since the 1988 Seoul Games, but was caught by Indonesia and was unable to participate in the Olympics for the first time in 40 years.
On this day, Korea’s Lee Kang-hee struck the net first with a powerful mid-range shot in the 7th minute of the first half, but the score was canceled as offside was declared as a result of video review (VAR).
Indonesia, which escaped the threat of conceding goals, took a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute of the first half when Rafael Strawick scored with an exquisite right-footed curling shot.
In the 45th minute of the second half, Korea tied the score at 1-1 when Uhm Seong’s header hit Komang Tegu and went into the goal, but Indonesia’s Strawick hit the net again in extra time, ending the first half with a 1-2 lead.
Uhm Uhm-seong scored the equalizing goal
As the second half began, Korea strengthened its attack by replacing Kang Sang-yoon, Jeong Sang-bin, and Lee Young-jun.
However, Korea was outnumbered in the 21st minute of the second half when Lee Young-jun committed a rough foul on the opposing defense, received a red card, and was sent off.
Korea, which was focusing on defense and launching a counterattack, scored a penetrating pass after Hong Yun-sang received the ball quickly thrown by goalkeeper Baek Jong-beom after the opponent’s corner kick in the 38th minute of the second half.
Hwang Seon-hong, head coach of the Olympic national soccer team
After receiving the ball, Jeong Sang-bin dribbled and scored with a right-footed shot inside the box, tying the score at 2-2 and dramatically sending the game into overtime.
The two teams went into a penalty shootout after failing to score a goal during overtime, and faced a crisis when Korea’s sixth kicker, Kang Sang-yoon’s kick was blocked.
However, Indonesia’s 6th kicker Fikri also missed, and in the end, the players of both teams continued to fight in a bloody penalty shoot-out. While Korea’s 12th kicker Lee Kang-hee’s kick was blocked, Indonesia succeeded in both, giving Indonesia a ticket to the semifinals.
Photo = Korea Football Association (KFA)
