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Korea Republic stay on course to defend title, Hong Kong, China join semis party

Korea Republic stay on course to defend title, Hong Kong, China join semis party

Hangzhou: Korea Republic moved into the semi-finals of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sunday as Hwang Sun-hong’s side handed hosts China PR a 2-0 defeat as Hong Kong, China claimed a shock 1-0 win over the Islamic Republic of Iran to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time.
Poon Pui Hin scored two minutes into the second half to earn Jorn Andersen’s side an unexpected victory and means they will face Japan, 2-1 winners over DPR Korea, in the last four on Wednesday.
 
The Koreans, meanwhile, will next play Uzbekistan as Timur Kapadze’s side handed Saudi Arabia a 2-1 defeat to advance to the last four for the first time since 1994.
Hwang’s team, with Jeong Woo-yeong and Lee Kang-in on the bench, silenced the crowd of 38,158 at the Huanglong Stadium on China’s National Day when Hong Hyun-seok curled his free-kick into the top corner of Han Jiaqi’s goal with 18 minutes on the clock.
 
The defending champions doubled their advantage 17 minutes later when Cho Young-wook drove down the right flank and cut an inviting ball across the six-yard box for Song Min-kyu to score from close range.
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The Japanese, who lost to Korea Republic in the 2018 final in Jakarta, took the lead against DPR Korea through Kotaro Uchino five minutes into the second half.
 
Kim Kuk Bom levelled for DPR Korea with 16 minutes remaining before a penalty six minutes later from Yuta Matsumura took Go Oiwa’s side into the last four.
Uzbekistan, the reigning AFC U20 Asian Cup™ holders but defeated by Saudi Arabia in the 2022 U23 final, continued their run into the medal rounds with a 2-1 win over the West Asian side to reach their first semi-final since winning Asian Games gold 29 years ago.
 
Saidazamat Mirsaidov gave the Central Asians a 24th minute lead and Alisher Odilov hit the second a minute before halftime, scoring into an empty net after goalkeeper Ahmed Al Jubaya had raced off his line to close down the 22-year-old forward.
 
Mohammed Marran scored from close range in the 66th minute to halve the deficit only for Abdullah Radif to receive a second yellow card deep into injury time to halt Saudi Arabia’s dwindling hopes of a late comeback.
 
Photos: AFP

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