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AFC Asian Cup
The Koreans edged Australia 2-1 at Al Janoub Stadium on Friday with Son Heung-min’s free-kick taking Klinsmann’s side into a last four meeting with Jordan on Tuesday after Hwang Hee-chan’s injury time penalty had cancelled out Craig Goodwin’s first half volley.
Victory came 72 hours after a similar success against Saudi Arabia in the last 16, when the Koreans emerged as winners in a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw at the end of extra-time, and the nature of his team’s progress has left Klinsmann captivated.
#AsianCup2023 | Quarter-final : Australia 1 - 2 Korea Republic
“It was another drama,” said the German, whose team have now scored in injury time in four of their five games to date. “We are extremely happy. We are thrilled to go through.
“It was a hard fought fight with Australia and we expected a hard fight with Australia, but to go again for 120 minutes…
“I’m proud of this team, I’m proud of the spirit that they have. I wish sometimes we start 1-0 down so that we can play that way from the start, running after the ball.”
Korea Republic looked destined to exit the competition when Goodwin’s 42nd minute volley gave Graham Arnold’s side the lead and the Socceroos mounted a resolute defensive display while threatening on the counterattack.
Mitchell Duke missed a pair of opportunities to double Australia’s lead before Son’s persistence paid off deep into injury time, the Tottenham forward provoking a rash challenge from Lewis Miller and referee Ahmed Abu Bakar Al Kaf pointed to the spot.
Hwang hammered home the penalty to take the game to extra-time and Son then stepped up to hit the winner, an unstoppable curling free-kick with his right foot from the edge of the area that gave Maty Ryan little chance.
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“Maybe we get into a higher rhythm when we go down,” Klinsmann said of his team’s ability to overcome diversity. “Maybe when we’re 0-0 we worry too much. It’s all psychological.
“It’s a fantastic experience. We are in the semi-final. We have two more games to go to make this country proud, hopefully. You can see it in the players eyes, they want to make their country and their friends proud. They want to bring this trophy home.”
#AsianCup2023 | Group E : Jordan 2 - 2 Korea Republic
The next obstacle in the Koreans’ path is a Jordan side that also presented a major challenge in the group phase, when an injury time own goal from Yazan Al Arab was required to salvage a 2-2 draw against Lhoussanine Ammouta’s team.
However, they will go into the game without Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae, who earned a second booking of the tournament during the win over the Australians to pick up a one-match suspension.
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“We’re happy to be in the next round, in the semi-final,” said Klinsmann. “We’re going to play a good Jordan team. It was a tough group. Two of those teams are in the semi-final and it speaks of our group. We’re hungry, we’re very hungry and we want to be here until the very end.
“It always starts at 0-0. When it’s Jordan it will be another nail biter. We have to again unblock the result, hopefully sooner than after 120 minutes but it will be another tough one.”
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