안전놀이터 South Korea’s U-17 national soccer team has advanced to the final of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-17 Asian Cup, where it will face Japan in an attempt to win its first title in 21 years.
Byun Sung-hwan’s side defeated Japan 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the tournament on Monday (Sept. 29) at Pathum Thani Stadium in Thailand thanks to a free-kick wonder goal from Baek In-woo (Yongin Football Center U-18).
South Korea will face Japan, who advanced to the final with a 3-0 win over Iran, on July 2 at 9 p.m. ET for the U-17 Asian Cup title. This is the first time Korea and Japan have met in the U-17 Asian Cup final.
South Korea has won the tournament twice (1986-2002).
Japan, on the other hand, has won the most titles in the tournament (three) and will be looking to make it two in a row.
South Korea fielded the same lineup as in the quarterfinals against Thailand, which they won 4-1.
Kim Myung-joon (Pohang Steel) was the top striker, with Yang Min-hyuk (Gangneung First) and Yoon Do-young (Chungnam Institute of Technology) on the left and right wings.
In the midfield, Jin Tae-ho (Youngsang High School) and Baek In-woo went up front, while Im Hyun-seop (Matango) played as a defensive midfielder and Kang Min-woo and Jong-hyun (Matango) formed the center back combination. The left and right fullbacks were Hwang Ji-sung (Daegun Go) and Lee Chang-woo (Bojin Go), and the goalkeeper was Hong Seong-min (Pohang Steel).
In contrast, Uzbekistan lined up in a 4-2-3-1.
Korea lost the ball share to Uzbekistan (25% to 75%) and struggled with Uzbekistan’s cooperative defense as they tried to break through from the left flank early in the game 메이저도메인.
The initiative shifted to South Korea in the 31st minute when Yang Min-hyuk and Jin Tae-ho cut off the flow of Uzbekistan’s left back line.
Pressing from the left side of the midfield, Yang Min-hyuk broke up the opposition’s buildup, stole the ball, and played it to Jin Tae-ho, who was heading into the penalty area. In the process, the ball hit the arm of Dilshod Abdullayev, earning a free kick near the penalty line.
Baek In-woo stepped up to take the kick and struck the ball hard with his right foot toward the opposite post, where it bounced off the ground once before going straight into the corner out of the goalkeeper’s reach.
South Korea continued to steal the ball from the opposition in the middle of the park and often attempted to counterattack, while Uzbekistan, stymied in their buildup, resorted to long balls, which proved inaccurate.
In first-half stoppage time, Lim Hyun-seop’s right-footed mid-range shot was saved by the goalkeeper.
Then, Yang Min-hyuk’s cross from the left side of the box was met by Yoon Do-young’s left-footed shot on goal, but it was deflected by the defense.
With the momentum on their side, South Korea continued to dominate the second half, but the goals were hard to come by.
In the sixth minute of the second half, South Korea earned a free kick in the left midfield area, and Baek In-woo, who scored the first goal, directly aimed for the top of the goal with his right foot, but the goalkeeper made a narrow save.
In the 13th minute of the second half, Yoon Do-young’s left-footed shot from the edge of the box ricocheted off the post and hit the ground.
Four minutes later, after receiving a through ball from Lim Hyun-seop, Yoon Do-young broke down the opposing defense and penetrated into the goal area, beating the goalkeeper.