In a nail-biting encounter at Education City Stadium on Tuesday, South Korea secured their spot in the Asian Cup quarter-finals by defeating Saudi Arabia 4-2 in a penalty shootout. The last-16 match concluded with a 1-1 scoreline after extra time, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
Cho Gue-sung played a pivotal role for South Korea, equalizing in second-half added time to cancel out Abdullah Radif’s opener. The drama unfolded further during the penalty shootout when Jo Hyeon-Woo made crucial saves against Sami Al-Najei and Abdulrahman Ghareeb, ultimately propelling South Korea to victory.
“I had confidence that I could make some saves for my team. I’m happy I could take my team through to the next round,” said Jo, expressing his satisfaction to reporters.
Despite converting all their penalties and securing a quarter-final berth, South Korea now faces a tight turnaround with only two days to recover before facing 2015 champions Australia on Friday. Coach Juergen Klinsmann acknowledged the challenge, remarking, “That’s the reason why I badly wanted to win our group. We will recover because we have a good atmosphere.”
Klinsmann emphasized the team’s spirit, noting, “This win has given this team more spirit. I enjoy coaching this group, and they badly want to do well for their country. We wanted to win before penalties, we didn’t count on a shootout.”
The vibrant atmosphere in the stadium, resembling a home game for South Korea, saw a banner reading “Asia is Green” alongside one depicting a Saudi player with the Asian Cup trophy. The vocal fans contributed to the electric environment, but the South Korean team in bright orange emerged victorious.
Saudi Arabia had the best chance in the first half, with two headers hitting the crossbar and a third saved by goalkeeper Jo. Son Heung-min had opportunities for South Korea, but the half ended goalless.
The turning point came immediately after halftime when Abdullah Radif, a halftime substitute, scored within 30 seconds of entering the field. However, South Korea fought back, and Cho’s header in added time forced the match into extra time.
After a goalless extra period, the spotlight turned to Jo Hyeon-Woo, who made crucial saves in the penalty shootout. The silence in the arena spoke volumes as Saudi fans left in disappointment. Hwang Hee-chan sealed the victory with the decisive spot kick.
“I apologise for this, I thought the shootout was over,” said Saudi coach Roberto Mancini, expressing regret. “I don’t think you understand the level of Korea, it’s too high. They have incredible players.”
Mancini acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, “As a team, it’s clear we have to improve more at this level, we have to work.” The defeat leaves Saudi Arabia reflecting on missed opportunities and the challenge of reaching South Korea’s level in international football.
