As in the round of 16, it looked for a long time as if Klinsmann and South Korea would be eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup. However, a late penalty took the game into extra time against Australia, in which Son scored the decisive 2:1 goal
Before the quarter-final clash with the favorites, Australia had not shown any weaknesses during the tournament. Only in the last group game against Uzbekistan, when progression was already certain, did they concede a goal (1-1), while the remaining games were won outright – including the round of 16 against Indonesia. Graham Arnold made four changes from the 4-0 win: St. Pauli’s Metcalfe, Atkinson, Goodwin and Duke replaced Jones, McGree, Bos and Fornaroli.
Their opponents from South Korea had previously struggled somewhat. They had only finished second in the group stage after losing points to Jordan (2:2) and Malaysia (3:3). In the round of 16, they then needed an equalizer in the 9th minute of stoppage time to beat Saudi Arabia 4-2 on penalties. Jürgen Klinsmann made three changes to his squad: Mainz’s Lee, Freiburg’s Jeong and Jung were on the bench for Park, Hwang and Cho.
South Korea took control of the game, but could hardly find any means of overcoming the Socceroos’ defensive bulwark. Metcalfe was particularly noticeable at the other end, but initially failed to score from distance (17′) and then missed from the penalty spot a little later after goalkeeper Jo had deflected a shot from Goodwin into the middle (19′).
Goodwin capitalizes on Hwang’s mistake
The net then fluttered on the far side for the first time, but the flag went up. Seol was just offside when he chipped over the defense into the penalty area – even his clever cross to Hee-Chan Hwang, who was able to slot home (31′). Shortly before the break, In-Beom Hwang made a mistake in his own penalty area and played the ball into the feet of Goodwin. After a quick combination via Duke, Metcalfe and Atkinson, who crossed from the right, Goodwin volleyed home at the second post to give Australia the lead shortly before the break (42′).
Jürgen Klinsmann had to come up with something, as his team – with the exception of the offside goal – failed to score in the first half. After the restart, his South Koreans were a little more determined, but the first high-caliber goal still belonged to Australia. Boyle failed twice against goalkeeper Jo, and Duke volleyed the ball over the goal at the third attempt (54′)
South Korea equalize again late on
After that, Australia withdrew far back and let the South Koreans come. They even established themselves in the final third at times, but the central defensive duo of Souttar and Rowles were always the end of the line. Only a chip from Kang-In Lee created any danger, but Jae-Sung Lee put the ball too far forward in the penalty area (78′). The Socceroos, meanwhile, continued to make pinpricks with quick counter-attacks. At the end of the most promising counter-attack, Duke only had to nod in from close range, but missed the goal with a diving header and the resulting preliminary decision (84′).
The game remained open – and South Korea struck again late in stoppage time. Miller brought down Son, who was actually in a less promising position on the left, with his long leg in the penalty area and conceded a penalty. Former Leipzig player Hee-Chan Hwang stepped up and fired his country into extra time (90.+6).
Son scores, O’Neill flies
The South Koreans kept the pressure on. Hee-Chan Hwang forced Ryan into a save after a cross from ten meters. The keeper was also on hand to save the rebound from Kang-In Lee’s shot from an acute angle (95′). The captain then took over shortly before the break. After a foul on Hee-Chan Hwang, Son curled a free-kick over the wall from 17 meters out. Ryan had a slight chance but was unable to prevent the South Koreans from taking the lead (104′).
And it got even worse: in stoppage time of the first half of extra time, O’Neill caught his opponent Hee-Chan Hwang on the ankle with an open sole. After a VAR check, the Australian was sent off with a red card (105.+4).
Australia were therefore outnumbered and had to flip the switch again. A hurdle that the Socceroos were unable to overcome. South Korea did not concede anything in the second half either and could even have decided the game early. However, Son (113′) and Kang-In Lee and Yang (119′) failed to score, which is why the score remained 2:1.
The Australians with St. Pauli’s Irvine and Metcalfe as well as Wiesbaden’s Irvine, who was not in the squad for the quarter-final, have to travel home. South Korea, on the other hand, will face Jordan in the first semi-final on Tuesday (4 p.m.) – albeit without Min-Jae Kim from Munich, who was booked with a yellow card shortly before the end of normal time.
