Korea Republic qualified for the AFC U20 Asian Cup™ Uzbekistan 2023 Finals after defeating Malaysia 6-2, while Mongolia strolled past Mongolia 6-0 in Group E of the Qualifiers on Sunday www.the-afc.com
Korea Republic finished on nine points to take top spot with Mongolia edging Malaysia to second place on goal difference, with the East Asian side now having to wait to know whether they will advance as one of the best five runners-up to the Final.
Korea Republic 6-2 Malaysia
Korea Republic, who defeated group hosts Mongolia 7-0 on Friday following their opening 6-0 triumph against Sri Lanka, found their breakthrough in the 34th minute.
The East Asians capitalised on a poor clearance which resulted in Lee Young-Jun scoring with a volley to give Korea Republic a 1-0 lead going into the break.
Korea Republic maintained their dominance in the second half and increased their tally in the 50th minute after Bae Jun-Ho evaded his marker at the edge of the area before curling his shot past Malaysia keeper Syahmi Haikal.
Malaysia reduced the deficit in the 55th minute through Adam Farhan after the defender did well to dribble past Bae Seo-Joon at the edge of the area before slotting home from close range.
A lapse in concentration saw Korea Republic restore their two-goal advantage two minutes later after an unmarked Lee Seung-Won thumped the ball into the back of the net from the top of the box.
Despite playing with 10 men after Muhammad Shamsul’s sending off in the 67th minute, Malaysia scored their second a minute later with Aliff Izwan muscling his way into the box before firing a low drive through the legs of keeper Kim Joon-Hong.
Korea Republic, however, turned on the power with Lee Young-Jun scoring in the 75th and 82nd minutes to complete his hat-trick, before Lee Seung-Won scored their sixth from the penalty spot in the 89th minute.
There was more woe for Malaysia as they were reduced to nine men following Muhammad Farhan’s red card in the third minute of added time as Korea Republic sealed an empathic victory to book their place in the Finals.
Mongolia 6-0 Sri Lanka
Mongolia secured their first win after scoring six unanswered goals past Sri Lanka.
Temuulen Zayat opened the scoring in the second minute before goals from Buyannemekh Ganbat (42nd minute) and Temuulen Uuganbat in added time made it 3-0.
Mongolia continued to dominate in the second half and widened their advantage in the 60th minute through Sodmunkh Ankhbayar before Sodmunkh Ankhbayar and Gan-Erdene Erdenebat struck in the first and fourth minutes of added time.
Published Date:2022-09-19