The South Korea Under-20 men’s national soccer team fell to Italy in the quarterfinals of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) U-20 World Cup.
The South Korean U-20 team, led by head coach Kim Eun-joong, lost 1-0 to Italy in the semifinals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023 at La Plata Stadium in Argentina on Monday (June 9). The loss denied South Korea a second consecutive final appearance after finishing runners-up at the 2019 tournament in Poland.
Korea conceded the first goal in the 14th minute through ‘Boundary No. 1’ Cesare Cassaday. After strong pressure from Italy, a ball cleared by the Korean corner area defense found its way to Italy’s Riccardo Turricchia. He immediately crossed the ball into the center of the box, where Cassaday found the back of the net.
South Korea equalized in the 23rd minute. Bae Joon-ho won a penalty kick, which Lee Seung-won converted with a right-footed shot to the left side of the goal. Lee now has two goals and four assists, the same as Lee Kang-in (Mallorca) four years ago.
Korea played an even match with a solid defense, but conceded in the last minute of the game. In the 41st minute, a foul awarded a free kick in the penalty box arc, and Simone Papundi scored the winning goal with a left-footed shot over the defense.
Despite the disappointment of missing out 먹튀검증 on the final, Kim praised his players, saying, “They dedicated themselves to the team and gave more than 100 percent.” “It must have been upsetting to enter the tournament without expectations, but they proved their worth,” he said.
Korean supporters, including Argentinian expatriates, covered one side of the stadium in red, and about 1,000 people cheered on the streets of Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square in the early hours of the morning. President Yoon Seok-yul said, “Coach Kim Eun-joong’s leadership and the fight of the players in reaching the quarterfinals gave the people hope and courage. You are the future of Korean soccer,” he said.
Kim Eun-joong will play Israel for the third-place match on Wednesday. Lee Seung-won said, “Some players showed tears, but the tournament is not over yet. We will definitely get a result in the next game,” he said. Bae Joon-ho, who was praised by his opponent for his brilliant individual skills, also vowed to “do my best until the end.”
