By Pearse McLaughlin
South Korea advance to the Quarter Finals of the AFC Asian Cup thanks to Cho Gue-Sung’s late headed goal in stoppage time and Cho Hyun-Woo’s penalty shootout heroics where he saved two penalties to deny Saudi Arabia. The match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes and even after extra time the two sides couldn’t be separated as South Korea won 4-2 on penalties.
Roberto Mancini has changed his shape slightly from the 5-3-2 formation that saw his Saudi Arabia side share a stalemate with Thailand last time out and to face South Korea he has changed his formation to the 3-5-2. In terms of personnel changes there have been 10 changes and the only player to keep their place is Salem Al-Dawsari.
Jurgen Klinsmann has changed his tactical shape from the 4-2-3-1 formation that drew 3-3 last time out against Malaysia and has went more defensively solid and tried to match Saudi Arabia by going with a three back formation of their own in the 3-4-2-1 formation. In terms of personnel changes South Korea have only made one change as in comes Jung Seung-Hyeon to replace Cho Gue-Sung.
First meaningful chance of the game so far came on the 26th minute for South Korea as Son Heung-Min tested the hands of Ahmed Ali Al Kassar. It all started with the rock at the back, Kim Min-Jae as he intercepts a pass and starts a counterattack for South Korea by play the ball to Kim Tae-Hwan who plays a long ball in behind the Saudi Arabia backline for Son Heung-Min who isolated himself with Hassan Tambakti and fired a low shot through his legs and the keeper makes a comfortable save. South Korea showing glimpses of how dangerous they can be in transition.
On the 41st minute Saudi Arabia struck the crossbar twice in quick succession and have a third attempt cleared by a combination of Cho Hyun-Woo and Kim Min-Jae throwing their bodies on the line to keep the ball out the back of the net. Hassan Tambakti attacked the ball at the near post and saw his glancing header crash off the crossbar from point blank range only for it to fall to Ali Lajami’s floated header on the rebound also hit the crossbar but it then fell kindly to their star man Salem Al-Dawsari whose header was saved by Cho Hyun-Woo’s fingertip and Kim Min-Jae’s head as it somehow goes behind for a corner. Great defending by South Korea. Saudi Arabia will be kicking themselves as they had three glorious opportunities in a matter of seconds to open the scoring but ultimately squandered their chances. How that ball stayed out the net we’ll never know. It somehow remains 0-0.
It remains all square at half time here at the Education City Stadium between Saudi Arabia and South Korea in what has been a tense and closely fought match so far. There has been very few chances created by either side in what is a must not lose match for either side with both defences coming out on top so far. Both neck and neck in terms of possession and shots on goal and I expect more of the same in the second half by these two evenly matched sides and it could ultimately boil down to individual quality to unlock either defence and be the difference for their side. Regardless it is set for a blockbuster of a second half.
Half time substitute for Saudi Arabia saw Abdullah Hadi Radif come on to replace Saleh Al-Shehri and it paid dividends as Radif scored after only 38 seconds into the second half and put Saudi Arabia into the lead. The ball broke kindly for Abdullah Hadi Radif but he reacted the quickest and showed great composure by taking a touch before placing the ball into the bottom right hand corner. Emphatic finish by the super sub Radif. Saudi Arabia 1 South Korea 0.
South Korea create their best opportunity of the game so far on the 86th minute through Hwang In-Beom who is denied brilliantly by Ahmed Ali Al Kassar from point blank range after great play between Hwang Hee-Chan Seol Young-Woo and it was the latters cut back that caused Saudi Arabia problems.
A minute later, South Korea continue to pepper the goal and are denied by Ali Al-Boleahi twice on the line first through Seol Young-Woo’s side footed volley at the back post then Son Heung-Min’s left footed shot that was destined for the bottom left hand corner only to be denied on the line by Ali Al-Boleahi. It really is attack versus defence as Saudi Arabia have everyone camped in their own box as they cling onto to their slim advantage. 10 minutes have been added on at the end of the game.
South Korea nearly get that all important equalizer in the third minute of stoppage added on at the end of the game through Cho Gue-Sung as he comes close as he rises highest in the box and crashes his header off the crossbar following terrific play down the left wing by Lee Kang-In as he managed to dig a cross out from the byline. Absolute sitter. Really should have been the equalizer there. South Korea are seriously ramping up the heat on that Saudi Arabia goal.
Two minutes later Hwang Hee-Chan races through on goal and drags his left footed shot just millimetres shy of the right hand post another golden opportunity squandered. In any case had it gone in I think it would have been overruled for offside as he looked to have gone a fraction too early.
Equalizer for South Korea and its their World Cup hero, Cho Gue-Sung who heads home in the ninth minute of stoppage time to rescue South Korea. A massive moment for Cho Gue-Sung as he has been heavily criticized in the group stage having failed to find the back of the net but what a way to silence the critics as he pops up for South Korea when they needed it most. 1-1 Game on.
It finishes all square after 90 minutes after Cho Gue-Sung’s late headed equalizer cancelled out Abdullah Hadi Radif’s early second half opener. Extra time, stoppage time, and potentially penalties to decide who progresses into the Quarter Finals of the Asian Cup.
South Korea nearly take the lead in the eighth minute of extra time through Kim Min-Jae’s glancing header. It was another great delivery into the box by Lee Kang-In following a corner from the right hand side which saw Kim Min-Jae rise highest at the near post and power a glancing header towards goal but it was straight at Ahmed Ali Al Kassar.
It remains 1-1 between the two sides as Saudi Arabia are holding on strong as they are hoping to nick the win on the counterattack or through penalties. South Korea look the most dangerous and are the side pushing for the winner in extra time and came closest in the first period through Kim Min-Jae’s header. Another 15 minutes to play for either side to grab a winner or we will see a penalty shootout to decide who progresses to the next round.
Massive opportunity squandered by South Korea in the third minute of the second half of extra time as they should have taken advantage by a mistake at the back from Ahmed Ali Al Kassar but Cho Gue-Sung makes the wrong decision and passes to Lee Kang-In instead of shooting and possibly scoring with no keeper in the net. The ball is then played back to Son Heung-Min and he tries to shoot at goal and Cho Gue-Sung gets in his way and the chance is gone. Perhaps Cho was in two minds having been told off by his captain for taking a shot at the start of the
On the 115 minute Hwang Hee-Chan’s cutback picks out Lee Kang-In on the penalty spot where he manages to shift the ball onto his favoured left foot and curls the ball towards the top right hand corner but for a fantastic save yet again from Ahmed Ali Al Kassar. Kassar is a man on a mission today as he is in inspired form. It somehow remains 1-1.
In the third minute of added time in extra time Abdullah Hadi Radif nearly puts Saudi Arabia infront but for a good save by Cho Hyun-Woo. South Korea were caught short at the back and were lucky not to go behind late on.
It’s all over here at the Education City Stadium as both sides can’t be separated after 120 minutes and will now require penalties to separate the two sides.
Saudi Arabia win the coin toss and will shoot first.
Mohamed Kanno steps up first for Saudi Arabia and makes no mistake by smashing the ball into the bottom left hand corner beyond the reach of Cho Hyun-Woo.
South Korea captain, Son Heung-Min assumes responsibility and steps up first and smashes the ball low and hard into the bottom left hand corner beyond the reach of Ahmed Ali Al Kassar. It’s now level at one penalty apiece.
Saud Abdulhamid sends Cho Hyun-Woo the wrong way as he smashes the ball into the top left hand corner. What a penalty. Saudi Arabia back infront at 2-1.
Kim Young-Gwon the K-League 1 player of the year 2023 steps up next and he just guides the ball into the side netting as he stroked the ball into the bottom right hand corner. The perfect penalty. 2-2.
Sami Al-Najei is up next and he curls the ball towards the bottom left hand corner but Cho Hyun-Woo guesses right and saves. First blood South Korea as it remains 2-2.
Up steps Cho Gue-Sung to put South Korea in the lead as he sends Ali Al Kassar the wrong way and coolly dispatches the ball into the bottom right hand corner. Advantage South Korea as they now lead 3-2 in penalties.
Abdulrahman Ghareeb steps up and tries to pick out the bottom left hand corner and is denied brilliantly again by Cho Hyun-Woo. Another terrific save as he now puts South Korea within touching distance of the Quarter Finals. Roberto Mancini has already left his dugout and made his way down the tunnel as he thinks his team is already out. Shocking behaviour and a lack of class from the Italian.
Hwang Hee-Chan with the weight of the nation on his shoulders blasts the ball high into the roof of the net as he sends Ahmed Ali Al Kassar the wrong way and South Korea into the Quarter finals.
It’s all over as South Korea triumph 4-2 in penalties over Saudi Arabia having drawn 1-1 in the 90 minutes. Extra time couldn’t separate the two sides and ultimately there has to be a loser and what a cruel way to crash out. South Korea were the better side over the piece and deserved their victory and will have thanks to Cho Gue-Sung’s late equalizer and Cho Hyun-Woo’s heroics in the shootout.
Saudi Arabia: Ahmed Ali Al Kassar, Hassan Tambakti (Sami Al-Najei 108’), Ali Lajami, Ali Al-Boleahi, Saud Abdulhamid, Nasser Al Dawsari (Eid Al-Muwallad 72’), Abdullah Alkhalbari (Awn Al Slaluli 106’), Mohamed Kanno, Mohammed Al Burayk (Hasan Kadesh 89’), Saleh Al-Shehri (Abdullah Hadi Radif 46’), Salem Al-Dawsari (Abdulrahman Ghareeb 84’). Subs not used: Mohammed Al-Rubaie, Raghed Najjar, Fawaz Al Sagourq, Mukhtar Ali, Abdulelah Al Malki, Firas Al-Buraikan.
South Korea: Cho Hyun-Woo, Jung Seung-Hyeon (Park Yong-Woo 64’), Kim Min-Jae (Park Jin-Seob 117’), Kim Young-Gwon, Kim Tae-Hwan, Lee Jae-Sung (Cho Gue-Sung 64’), Hwang In-Beom (Hong Hyun-Seok 104’), Seol Young-Woo, Lee Kang-In, Jeong Woo-Yeong (Hwang Hee-Chan 54’), Son Heung-Min. Subs not used: Song Bum-Keun, Lee Ki-Jee, Kim Jin-Su, Kim Ji-Soo, Lee Soon-Min, Oh Hyun-Gyu, Yang Hyun-Jun.
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
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