In a stunning upset, South Korea defeated China in the quarterfinals of the AFC U20 Asian Cup. The match, which took place on March 17th, 2023, at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Qatar, ended with a score of 2-1 in favor of South Korea.
South Korea got off to a great start, scoring the first goal of the match in the 12th minute. The goal was scored by Lee Dong-jun, who found the back of the net with a powerful shot from just outside the box. China tried to respond quickly, but South Korea’s defense held strong, keeping them at bay.
In the second half, China managed to equalize with a goal from Xu Youwei in the 60th minute. The game was now evenly matched, and both teams fought hard to take the lead. However, it was South Korea who managed to break the deadlock, with Lee Dong-jun scoring his second goal of the match in the 80th minute. China tried to mount a comeback, but South Korea’s defense held firm, securing the victory.
The win is a significant achievement for South Korea, who were considered underdogs heading into the match. China had been one of the strongest teams in the tournament, winning all three of their group stage matches and scoring a total of nine goals in the process. South Korea, on the other hand, had only managed to win one of their group stage matches and had scored just four goals.
The victory sets up a semifinal match between South Korea and Japan, who defeated Iraq in their quarterfinal match. The two teams have a long-standing rivalry and have met numerous times in major tournaments over the years. The match is sure to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams looking to secure a place in the final.
The AFC U20 Asian Cup is a biennial international youth football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The tournament features the best under-20 teams from across Asia and is seen as a stepping stone for young players looking to make it to the senior national teams. The current edition of the tournament is being held in Qatar, with the final set to take place on March 26th, 2023.