Recently, South Korea concluded their U-20 Men's World Cup campaign after an unfortunate loss against Oleksandr Petrakov's Ukraine crew. Although the Taegeuk Warriors finished second overall, as a South Korean soccer fan, it was a marvel to see our nation participate in the finals of such a high-class competition. Throughout the dream-like weeks of the U-20 World Cup, it is manifest that all the hard efforts and persistence has finally paid off. In this blog post, I would like to walk you through South Korea's quest to reaching the finale.
<Round of 16 - South Korea VS Japan>
Starting Lineups:
South Korea Starting Lineup (5-3-2):
1. Lee Gwang-Yeon (GK)
2. Hwang Tae-Hyeon (DF)
3. Lee Jae-Ik (DF)
4. Lee Ji-Sol (DF)
5. Kim Hyun-Woo (DF)
6. Kim Jung-Min (CM)
9. Oh Se-Hun (FW)
10. Lee Kang-In (FW)
15. Jeong Ho-Jin (CM)
18. Cho Young-Wook (CM)
19. Jun Choi (DF)
Japan Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1):
1. Tomoya Wakahara (GK)
3. Yuki Kobayashi (DF)
4. Ayumu Seko (DF)
5. Yukinari Sugawara (DF)
6. Yuta Goke (CM)
8. Kanya Fujimoto (CDM)
10. Mitsuki Saito (CDM)
13. Taisei Miyashiro (FW)
14. Jun Nishikawa (CM)
15. Toichi Suzuki (DF)
16. Kota Yamada (CM)
Summary / Own Thoughts / Comments:
Due to the troubling history between Japan and South Korea, these two nations have always been rivals, not only in soccer but in almost every single sporting event. Despite such intensity and pressure in the surrounding atmosphere, Se-Hun Oh, the striker for Asan Mugunghwa FC, was able to comfortably head the ball into the bottom right corner, making it improbable for Wakahara to make a save. Masanaga Kageyama's side was very unlucky as they had numerous possibilities to score, yet either missed or hit the side posts.
Nevertheless, it is of genuine truth that in general, Korean soccer struggles when it comes to the defensive line or man-marking. Although the defenders performed exceptionally well, it was visible once again that there were complications regarding man-marking. In the 64th minute counter-attack from the Japanese, Jun Nishikawa was able to transfer the ball neatly to Taisei Miyashiro. Fortunately for the South Koreans, Miyashiro put in an excess amount of power putting the ball wide.
The reason why Miyashiro was able to get a shot for Japan was due to the defense line being way too low and the defenders being oblivious about the late arriving strikers. The #13 forward deliberately arrived late into the box and it was evident that Lee Jae-Ik had missed his man.
On the bright side, South Korea seems to be producing sensational goalkeepers. Just like Jo Hyeon-Woo's performance in the 2018 Russia World Cup, Lee Gwang-Yeon has shown some extraordinary super saves in the match against Japan. For instance, in the 50th minute, after Mitsuki Saito delivered the ball using the unique overhead technique, Taisei Miyashiro smashed the ball towards the goal net but was denied by Lee in a superb manner. Further, in a crucial point of the game, Miyashiro accurately crossed the ball into the box area in the 71st minute and was quickly headed by the substitute Keito Nakamura. The ball went flying into the right-hand side, yet Lee Gwang-Yeon once again saved the day.
Match Statistics:
<Quarter-finals - South Korea VS Senegal>
Starting Lineups:
South Korea Starting Lineup (5-3-2):
1. Lee Gwang-Yeon (GK)
2. Hwang Tae-Hyeon (DF)
3. Lee Jae-Ik (DF)
4. Lee Ji-Sol (DF)
5. Kim Hyun-Woo (DF)
7. Jeon Se-Jin (CM)
9. Oh Se-Hun (FW)
10. Lee Kang-In (FW)
14. Park Tae-Jun (CM)
15. Jeong Ho-Jin (CM)
19. Jun Choi (DF)
Senegal Starting Lineup (4-4-2):
2. Moussa Ndiaye (DF)
4. Ousseynou Cavin Diagne (CM)
5. Souleymane Aw (DF)
7. Amadou Sagna (CM)
12. Alpha Richard Dionkou (DF)
13. Souleymane Djimou Cisse (DF)
14. Ibrahima Niane (FW)
15. Ousseynou Niang (CM)
16. Dialy Kobaly Ndiaye (GK)
19. Youssouph Mamadou Badji (FW)
20. Amadou Ciss (CM)
Summary / Own Thoughts / Comments:
In the Stadion Miejski Bielsko-Biała, South Korea was steps away from writing a line in the history books. After 37 minutes of stalemate, Ousseynou Cavin Diagne was the one to swift things around. After Alpha Richard Dionkou's complex cross, Ibrahima Niane correctly directed the ball across to the Senegalese midfielder, who neatly tucked the ball into South Korea's end. Though, Niane's goal became futile after Souleymane Aw purposely pushed a South Korean player, who had both of his foot inside the penalty zone. After verification with the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) system, a penalty was rewarded, which was then gracefully executed by Lee Kang-In. Nonetheless, the tides turned once again after Lee Jae-Ik imperceptibly made contact with the ball with his arm while attempting to defend Youssouph Mamadou Badji inside the penalty box. After a thorough examination with the VAR system (once again), a penalty kick was given to Senegal this time. Ibrahima Niane confidently took the penalty, yet was blocked by Lee Gwang-Yeon. For a moment, happiness flooded the South Korean fans yet the officials decided to disregard the penalty as Lee had his foot insignificantly in front of the line before Niane took his penalty. When Niane shot for a second time, it was a goal for the Senegalese.
Despite being behind, the South Koreans had no will to face failure in this competition. With 9 minutes of additional time, the fitting corner kick chance came for the Taegeuk Warriors. Lee Kang-In crossed the ball in flawlessly with his left foot and was headed into the back of the net by Lee Ji-Sol, the influential defender for Daejeon Citizen FC.
The triumphant ambiance continued to flow after Cho Young-Wook scored a screamer after Lee Kang-In's magical pass. With the score at 3-2, the South Koreans were sure of their victory. Notwithstanding, the tense drama rolled on with one minute stoppage time remaining. After the sloppy defending and error with the man-marking tactic, a ball was slipped into Amadou Ciss, who netted the pivotal goal for Senegal, dragging the match into an extreme penalty kick-out.
The penalty kick itself was a rollercoaster ride for the soccer fans viewing. After penalty kick fumbles from Kim Jung-Min, Moustapha Mbow, Cho Young-Wook, Amadou Dia Ndiaye, and Ousseynou Cavin Diagne, South Korea were through to the semi-finals winning the shootout 3-2. I know a lot of misses...
Click here to watch a short highlight provided by FIFA for yourself!
I understand how dedicated and hard-working the South Koreans were throughout the match, yet in my opinion, I strongly felt like the match should've ended without moving into penalty kicks. Like I mentioned when talking about the competition against Japan, the defenders constantly miss out on one or two players that arrive late into the box forming a large amount of space for themselves to score. When Ousseynou Cavin Diagne netted the first goal of the quarter-finals match, it is noticeable that each defender had their eye on the ball rather than the late-arriving Senegalese strikers. Consequently, as soon as Ibrahima Niane struck the ball across, Diagne was wide open making it much simple for him to accumulate a point.
Another of these instances emerged when Amadou Ciss netted the imperative goal following Kim Jung-Min's silly man-marking blunder. When you look at the replay, Kim has his whole body positioned towards the moving ball, while the Senegalese midfielder dashes into vacant space, making it impracticable for the Korean defender to obstruct him. When Kim Jung-Min notices his man and turns around to defend, it is too late and Ciss has already taken his shot.
Nonetheless, it is no doubt that South Korea was more dominant in terms of off-the-ball movements and wide vision. For example, when Lee Ji-Sol headed that ball from the corner kick, he was situated nearly on the edge of the penalty section and sprinted around the Senegalese defenders to form room for an outstanding header. Lee was intelligently cognizant of the clustered defenders, hence ran around the border making it challenging for the opponents to attempt an aerial duel. Furthermore, in the 96th minute when Cho Young-Wook scored, his off the ball action was phenomenal, gliding in between the two defenders that were arduously trying to stop any through pass inclinations. Still, with the assistance of Lee Kang-In's majestic pass, Cho was immediately separated from the Senegalese players.
Match Statistics:
<Semi-finals - South Korea VS Ecuador>
Starting Lineups:
South Korea Starting Lineup (5-3-2):
1. Lee Gwang-Yeon (GK)
2. Hwang Tae-Hyeon (DF)
3. Lee Jae-Ik (DF)
4. Lee Ji-Sol (DF)
5. Kim Hyun-Woo (DF)
9. Oh Se-Hun (FW)
10. Lee Kang-In (FW)
13. Ko Jae-Hyeon (CM)
15. Jeong Ho-Jin (CM)
19. Jun Choi (DF)
20. Kim Se-Yun (CM)
Ecuador Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1):
1. Wellington Moisés Ramírez Preciado (GK)
2. Jackson Gabriel Porozo Vernaza (DF)
3. Diego Palacios (DF)
4. Jhon Jairo Espinoza Izquierdo (DF)
6. Gustavo Vallecilla (DF)
8. José Adoni Cifuentes Charcopa (CDM)
9. Leonardo Campana (FW)
10. Jordan Lenín Rezabala Anzules (CM)
11. Alexander Antonio Alvarado Carriel (CM)
16. Sergio Saúl Quintero Chavez (CDM)
20. Gonzalo Jordy Plata Jiménez (CM)
Summary / Own Thoughts / Comments:
Ecuador, a nation renowned for its counter-attacks, showed their aggressiveness and eagerness to succeed in the first half after consecutive through-ball attempts and efficacious shots outside the penalty region. The ideal opportunity came for the Ecuadorians in the 38th minute when Alexander Antonio Alvarado Carriel delicately crossed the ball into Leonardo Campana. Campana took a remarkable first touch immediately getting past Kim Hyun-Woo and taking a shot on target. Fortunately, the ball was deflected by Kim and hit the crossbar, making the Ecuadorian fans clutch their fists in frustration. Regardless of the opportunities, not long after in the 39th minute, a freekick was given for South Korea and was taken under control with beauty. While Lee Kang-In was waiting for the forwards to set up, he promptly noticed Jun Choi, the left wing-back, sprinting into the box from the far side, thus played a perfect pass between the Ecuador defense line. Jun Choi didn't bother taking a touch and directly curled the ball into the right corner, generating the decisive goal that led South Korea into the final spotlight of the U-20 World Cup. Although only one goal was tallied throughout the match held in Arena Lublin, it was an exhaustive contest with multiple close occasions for both countries.
I'm sure that multitudinous Korean fans would undoubtedly agree that Lee Gwang-Yeon, the starting goalkeeper for South Korea, once again revealed his astounding capability and greatly contributed to the victorious match against Jorge Célico's Ecuador club. Throughout the entire game, the way he took his time to make sure an efficient build-up movement was working as well as his game-changing saves against the Ecuadorian strikers are pieces of evidence that prove Lee Gwang-Yeon's indispensable role within the squad. There were two exemplary instances where Lee Gwang-Yeon made terrific saves for the Korean side. In the 71st minute, following an incomplete clearance by Lee Ji-Sol, the ball headed towards Diego Palacios stimulating him to go for goal. Palacios' kicked ball curled neatly heading towards the top left corner, yet was stunningly rejected by Lee Gwang-Yeon. Lee Gwang-Yeon was perfectly conscious of where the ball was headed and stretched his body to maintain Korea's 1-0 lead.
Another one of these meaningful denials came at a consequential moment of the game as Ecuador was continually banging on South Korea's door to score with only 4 minutes remaining. After a firm solo-run starting from the half-line by Diego Palacios, he then used his left foot to whip the ball into Leonardo Campana. Palacios' cross was especially accurate that all Campana had to do was spring up into the air. Despite the sumptuous combination by the Ecuadorian duo, Lee's response was posthaste making it improbable for Ecuador to tie things up.
Match Statistics:
<Finals - South Korea VS Ukraine>
Starting Lineups:
South Korea Starting Lineup (5-3-2):
1. Lee Gwang-Yeon (GK)
2. Hwang Tae-Hyeon (DF)
3. Lee Jae-Ik (DF)
4. Lee Ji-Sol (DF)
5. Kim Hyun-Woo (DF)
6. Kim Jung-Min (CM)
9. Oh Se-Hun (FW)
*10. Lee Kang-In (FW)
18. Cho Young-Wook (CM)
19. Jun Choi (DF)
20. Kim Se-Yun (CM)
Ukraine Starting Lineup (5-4-1):
*1. Andriy Lunin (GK)
2. Valeriy Bondar (DF)
3. Oleksandr Safronov (DF)
7. Heorhiy Tsitaishvili (CM)
8. Oleksiy Khakhlov (CM)
9. Viktor Korniienko (DF)
10. Serhiy Buletsa (CM)
11. Vladyslav Supriaha (FW)
13. Danylo Beskorovainyi (DF)
15. Kyrylo Dryshlyuk (CM)
17. Yukhym Konoplia (DF)
*Adidas Golden Ball Award & Golden Glove Award:
Adidas Golden Ball Award Winner: Lee Kang-In (South Korea)
Selected by the media, The Adidas Golden Ball award is granted to the athlete who displays the most exceptional performance during the tournament. After the 2007 U-20 World Cup competition, those who finish as runners-up in the voting procedure obtain the Silver Ball and Bronze Ball accolades as the second and third most outstanding players in the tournament.
Golden Glove Award Winner: Andriy Lunin (Ukraine)
The Golden Glove award is granted to the best goalkeeper of the U-20 World Cup tournament.
Summary / Own Thoughts / Comments:
Inside the Stadion Widzewa Łódź, the burning atmosphere arose as the referee blew his whistle to signal the start of the final match of the U-20 World Cup. With only two minutes into the game, Danylo Beskorovainyi stepped Kim Se-Yun's foot, which was located exactly on the white borderline of the penalty box. No foul was called by the official in the first phase, yet VAR's judgment clearly stated that a penalty should be given. After a few minutes of irritating patience, the referee signaled a penalty, opening up an opportunity for South Korea to take the lead. Like always, Lee Kang-In stepped up onto the penalty box without hesitation and skillfully tucked the ball neatly into the bottom left corner.
Still, Ukraine's mentality didn't shatter as they struck back in the 34th minute. During a free kick situation, Serhiy Buletsa made a chip over the defensive wall but was headed out of the danger zone by Oh Se-Hun. Following Oh's clearance, Kim Se-Yun's untimely arrival put the ball back into South Korea's territory, making it easy-peasy for Vladyslav Supriaha to net one in for Ukraine. After Supriaha's goal, luck stayed on Ukraine's side as South Korea were dominating possession and control but letting in goals at the same time. In the 52nd minute, Yukhym Konoplia boldly dribbled through the middle getting passed Cho Young-Wook and Jun Choi. Kim Hyun-Woo joined in with the defending action yet the ball was deflected off his right leg, automatically creating a wonderful chance for Vladyslav Supriaha again. The Ukrainian forward was in the right place at the right time not only once but twice.
Despite Supriaha's two goals, a chance to equalize finally arrived in the 70th minute. In a corner kick situation, Lee Kang-In struck the ball across to Lee Jae-Ik who headed it supremely right below Ukraine's crossbar. For a second or two everyone was on their feet hoping for the back net to rattle. However, Andriy Lunin fully stretched himself to make an incredible save, crippling the dreams of tying things up.
Ukraine's goal scoring didn't stop there. With one minute left until the end of the match, Kim Hyun-Woo's sluggish pass gave the ball away to Heorhiy Tsitaishvili. As soon as Tsitaishvili got a touch, he unveiled his animal-like speed and outran Hwang Tae-Hyeon, Lee Jae-Ik, and Lee Ji-Sol. Eventually, he got himself around the South Korean defenders and scoring by directing the ball towards the side net of South Korea's goal.
Match Statistics:
Like I mentioned in the beginning introduction, regardless of our achievement of unluckily finishing as runner-ups, I firmly believe that these young men have allowed South Korean soccer teams, whether it's the Women's or Men's national team, to take a step further in terms of experience, determination, as well as courage. It is the first time in South Korea's history for a national soccer team to participate in the U-20 World Cup, and for that fact alone, I cannot express my satisfaction and delight solely with a few words. Once again, a huge thank you to the soccer players for their efforts and I hope that they can come back stronger in the future years to come! 대한민국 화이팅!!
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