The Korean under-24 (U-24) soccer team will clash with rival Uzbekistan (Uzbekistan) to advance to the finals of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Korea, led by coach Hwang Seon-hong, will face Uzbekistan in the men’s soccer semifinals at the Huanglong Sports Center Stadium in Hangzhou, China, at 9 p.m. on the 4th (Korean time).
Korea, which won the 2014 Incheon and 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, will attempt to win its third consecutive title in Hangzhou.
Korea, which easily won the group stage (Kuwait, Thailand, Bahrain) and the round of 16 (Kyrgyzstan), won 2-0 in the quarterfinals against the host country, China, on the 1st, the first hurdle of the tournament.
Uzbekistan, which faces Korea in the semifinals, is Korea’s second hurdle in the tournament. Uzbekistan is a tough team.
In terms of record against national teams by age group, they are ahead with 10 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses out of 14 matches. 바카라사이트닷컴
Still, Uzbekistan persistently defeated Korea in international competitions. A representative example is the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games.
Korea faced Uzbekistan in the semifinals and lost 0-1. At that time, Uzbekistan reached the top of the competition.
Uzbekistan advanced to the semifinals in this tournament for the first time in 29 years.
Korea also faced Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals of the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games.
Korea was tied 3-3 and won 4-3 in the second half of extra time with Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton)’s penalty kick winning goal.
Coach Hwang said, “Uzbekistan is quite straightforward, powerful and energetic.
Since they are a team that fights for power, it can become difficult if they fight together. We have to prepare well.”
Korea is showing off its peak performance. A total of 23 goals were scored in the three group stage games, round of 16, and quarterfinals. The goal conceded was one goal in the round of 16 against Kyrgyzstan.
Coach Hwang explained, “I think it’s important that all strikers are in good condition. No matter who is out, they are doing their part.”
Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), Eom Won-sang (Ulsan), and Jeong Woo-young, who came on as substitutes in the second half of the quarterfinals against China, are positive as they conserved their stamina while maintaining their sense of practical combat. Director Hwang emphasized, “I believe that the best enemy right now is within us.
We must never let our guard down. We will take a step back, think, and approach cautiously.”
The opponent in the final is the winner of the semifinal between Japan and Hong Kong. Following the Jakarta-Palembang competition, there is a high possibility that the final match between Korea and Japan will take place for two consecutive competitions. Hong Kong caused an uproar by beating powerhouse Iran 1-0. This is the first time that Hong Kong soccer has reached the semifinals of the Asian Games.