Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Salvador: Korea Republic edged ever nearer to the Men's Olympic Football Tournament quarter-finals on Sunday (local time) as a dramatic 3-3 draw with Germany saw them regain top spot in Group C.
Hwang Hee-chon had given the 2015 AFC Asian Cup finalists a vital lead midway through the first period, but subsequent strikes from Serge Gnabry and Davie Selke put Germany in control shortly after the break. Son Heung-min and Suk Hyun-jun then handed their side the advantage once again, only for Gnabry to strike at the death to earn the Germans a point.
Despite their last gasp heartache, the point leaves Korea Republic proudly sitting on top of Group C and needing only to avoid defeat in Wednesday’s fixture against second-placed Mexico – 5-1 conquerors of Fiji earlier in the day – to seal one of the group’s top two spots and a ticket to the last eight.
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Having sensationally thumped Fiji 8-0 in their Olympics opener on Thursday. Korea Republic wasted little time in finding their stride against Germany, Hwang finshing from a tight angle after the European outfit had failed to clear Kwon Chang-hoon’s 25th minute corner.
Just eight minutes later however, Germany drew level when Arsenal star Gnabry notched his first of the game after latching onto a Julian Brandt pass and beating Korea Republic goalkeeper Kim Dong-jun with a lashed shot.
Brandt then tested Kim with a close-range volley before Lukas Klostermann struck the side-netting from a dangerous position as the first half came to a breathless close.
The German pressure was to pay further dividends in the 55th minute as Selke burst through the Korean defence to slot the ball past Kim and put Horst Hrubech’s charges ahead for the first time in the match.
Within two minutes though, Korea Republic were level. Tottenham Hotspur favourite Son timing his run into the penalty area perfectly to finish past German custodian Timo Horn and claim his second goal of the tournament.
The impressive Horn was to then deny both Son and Hwang, before substitute Suk – with his third strike in two games - gave the Taeguk Warriors a seemingly unassailable 3-2 lead with only four minutes to play by stabbing home Lee Seul-chan’s cross.
Yet, in keeping with game’s dramatic nature, Germany earned a point in injury time. Gnabry’s free-kick strike taking a deflection off the Korea Republic wall before finding the back of the net.
Korea Republic head coach Shin Tae-yong: “We fought well today. Both teams did their best during the 90 minutes. Though we could not win the match due to the last minute equaliser, we played with passion, especially in such hot weather. We are now leading the group but we will play Mexico to win. I am happy with the attack today but we conceded three goals and we must concentrate in defence. Our players are capable to score anytime, so I believe we can get a good result if we defend well. If we play for a draw [against Mexico], they can score even in the last minute. We must not play for a draw and I have already told this to our players. We have to be mentally prepared. We want to go to the next stage by winning the match.”
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