By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, April 20 (Yonhap) — Forward Lee Young-jun grabbed a brace as South Korea defeated China 2-0 for their second straight victory at the Olympic men’s football qualifying tournament in Qatar on Friday, inching closer to the knockout stage with a ticket to Paris at stake.
Lee netted one goal in each half of the teams’ Group B match at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Asian Cup at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha. The 20-year-old now has three goals in two matches, having scored South Korea’s lone goal in their 1-0 win over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday.
This tournament is also the AFC qualifying event for the Paris Olympics. The top three nations from the 16-team competition will earn berths in France, with the fourth-place team falling to an intercontinental playoff against Guinea.
In this photo provided by the Korea Football Association, Lee Young-jun of South Korea celebrates after scoring a goal against China during the teams’ Group B match at the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Asian Cup at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha on April 19, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
South Korea momentarily climbed to the top of their group with six points. Japan, who blanked China 1-0 on Tuesday, were to play the UAE later Friday.
Should Japan beat the UAE to also reach six points, South Korea and Japan will secure the two knockout spots out of Group B. The two rivals will then face each other Monday with the top seed at stake.
South Korea have played at every Olympic men’s football tournament since 1988.
China had the bulk of the early chances. Forward Behram Abduweli had the closest call on a counter break in the 15th minute, but goalkeeper Kim Jeong-hoon made a tough save on a shot from the center of the box.
Some three minutes later, Tao Qianglong took a shot from close range on the right side of the box but hit the side of the net.
In this photo provided by the Korea Football Association, Kim Min-woo of South Korea (R) dribbles past Behram Abduweli of China during the teams’ Group B match at the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Asian Cup at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha on April 19, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
In the 21st minute, Abduweli had another dangerous look from the center of the box, though his attempt sailed wide right of the target.
Kim Jeong-hoon stepped up to keep the match scoreless, denying Xie Wenneng on a left-footed curler from the right side of the box in the 24th minute.
China enjoyed a 5-1 edge in shot attempts through the first 25 minutes.
But it was South Korea that broke the ice in the 34th minute, turning the momentum in their favor with one lethal sequence.
After receiving a pass just outside the box, Kang Sang-yoon threaded a through ball that split the defense and found the charging Lee Young-jun, who scored from a tough angle on the right side.
South Korea nearly doubled their lead five minutes later, when Eom Ji-sung sped past multiple defenders on the left side of the box but just missed the far post with a right-footed shot.
In this photo provided by the Korea Football Association, Kim Min-woo of South Korea (on top) gets tangled up with Jia Feifan of China during the teams’ Group B match at the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Asian Cup at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha on April 19, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
China put some pressure on South Korea in the opening moments of the second half, with Abduweli putting down a header in the 49th minute.
For South Korea, Kang Seong-jin struck the right post from deep inside the box in the 51st minute. But then it was China’s turn again to control the run of play, winning 50-50 balls and sending South Korean defenders scrambling in their own box.
Kim Jeong-hoon played the hero once again in the 69th minute with a save on a point-blank shot by Xie Wenneng following a South Korean turnover.
Kim’s teammates quickly gave their goalkeeper some breathing room, going up 2-0 only seconds after the goalkeeper’s big stop.
Lee Tae-seok set up Lee Young-jun in the center of the box following a fast break. The forward then fired a left-footed shot through the wickets of defender Liang Shaowen and past goalkeeper Huang Zihao.
The insurance goal seemed to take the wind out of China’s sails. South Korea kept pushing, with Eom missing the target high a minute into added time, before closing out their two-goal win.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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