The South Korea Under-20 National Team, led by head coach Kim Eun-joong, is playing Italy in the semifinals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023 at the La Plata Stadium in La Plata, Argentina, at 6 a.m. ET on Monday. The second half is underway and South Korea is trailing 1-2.
South Korea started in a 4-2-3-1 formation once again. Lee Young-joon was up front, while Bae Jun-ho, Lee Seung-won, and Kim Yong-hak formed the second line. Kang Sang-yoon and Park Hyun-bin protected the back line, while Choi Ye-hoon, Kim Ji-soo, Choi Seok-hyun, and Cho Young-kwang formed the defense. Kim Jun-hong was in goal.
Italy countered with a 4-1-2-1-2 formation. Giuseppe Ambrosino-Francesco Esposito, Cesare Cassaday-Tomaso Baldanzi-Mateo Prati-Samuel Giovane, Riccardo Turricchia-Gabriele Guarino-Daniele Gallardi-Mattia Zanotti, and Sebastiano Desplanckes started.
Italy struck early in the match. In the eighth minute, Tommaso Baldanchi fired a right-footed shot after a one-touch pass into the box. However, goalkeeper Kim Jun-hong remained focused and leapt to make the save.
South Korea conceded the first goal. In the 14th minute, Italy won the ball with strong pressure on the left flank and sent the ball near the arc. ‘Top scorer’ Cassaday immediately converted with a right-footed shot, his seventh goal of the tournament.
South Korea quickly equalized. In the 18th minute, Bae Jun-ho was brought down by a defender in the box and a penalty kick was awarded after video assistant referee (VAR) review. Lee Seung-won stepped up to take the spot kick and slotted the ball into the back of the net with a strong right-footed shot to equalize. It was Kim’s first penalty kick goal of the tournament.
As the game remained tied, Italy started to come out strong. In the 36th minute, Ambrosino made a dangerous play with his feet high, and shortly afterward, Esposito hit Choi twice in the face with his arm. Two minutes later, Guarino hit Lee Young-joon in the face with an elbow, but no foul was called. Italy accumulated 15 fouls in the first half alone.
Bae Jun-ho continued to torment the Italian defense, leading the Korean attack with his exquisite dribbling and breakthroughs. In the 45th minute,스포츠토토 he beat Zanotti perfectly to draw a foul and give his opponent a yellow card.
South Korea would be disappointed. In the 45th minute, Lee Seung-won drove down the left side of the box, and Choi Ye-hoon crossed the ball into the center. Kim Yong-hak immediately connected with a left-footed volley, but the ball went over the top of the goal. The first half ended 1-1.
South Korea opened the second half. Less than 30 seconds into the second half, Lee Young-joon beat the defense and took a right-footed shot on goal. Unfortunately, the shot went straight at the goalkeeper and was blocked.
Goalkeeper Kim Jun-hong came up with a super save to save South Korea. In the 13th minute of the second half, Prati hit a powerful header from a corner kick. However, Kim Jun-hong was on the ball and made a narrow save. VAR showed that the ball was blocked just before it crossed the goal line.
Korea pulled out their substitutions. Kim Eun-joong made a change in the attacking lineup in the 16th minute of the second half, bringing on Lee Ji-han for Kim Yong-hak. A minute later, Lee Ji-han sent in a cross from the right and Lee Seung-won found the corner of the goal with a sharp volley, but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper.
South Korea continued to push forward. In the 38th minute, Bae Joon-ho beat the defense with a right-footed dribble from the left side of the box and played a cutback pass behind him. Lee Young-joon connected with an unstoppable left-footed shot, but the ball sailed over the bar.
Italy took the lead again. In the 41st minute, Simone Papundi’s left-footed free kick from near the arc found the corner of the goal. The trajectory was unstoppable, even for Kim Jun-hong in goal.