‘Eom Ji-sung’s Winning Goal’ U-23 National Soccer Team Beats Saudi Arabia 1-0 and Advances to Finals

Defeated Saudi Arabia in the semifinals of the 2024 WAFF Championship… Battle against Australia for the championship on the 27th

The Korean under-23 (U-23) soccer team advanced to the finals by defeating the host nation,

Saudi Arabia, in the semifinals of the 2024 West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) U-23 Championship. 안전놀이터

The Korean national team won 1-0 against Saudi Arabia in the semifinals of the tournament held at Al Fateh Stadium in Al Mubaraj, Saudi Arabia on the 24th (Korean time) thanks to Uhm Um-seong (Gwangju)’s winning goal in the 41st minute of the first half.

Korean National Team

Korea will play the final against Australia at 5 a.m. on the 27th.

Australia drew 1-1 with Egypt, then won 2-1 in a penalty shootout and advanced to the final.

This tournament is a prelude to the 2024 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Asian Cup,

which will be held in Qatar from the 15th of next month along with the Asian qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Eight countries participated, including Korea, which is aiming to advance to the Olympic finals for the 10th consecutive time,

as well as Australia, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.

Hwang Sun-hong

Coach Hwang Sun-hong, who leads the U-23 national team, is serving as the ‘temporary head coach’ of the national soccer team in the second qualifying round of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup,

and the U-23 national team in this tournament is playing as ‘Hwang Sun-hong without Hwang Sun-hong.’

Korea, which started its offensive in the 13th minute of the first half with a mid-range shot by Baek Sang-hoon (Seoul),

was disappointed when Hong Si-hoo’s (Incheon) right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area in the 23rd minute of the first half went into the net next to the right side of the Saudi goal.

Saudi Arabia’s counterattack was also strong.

Korea conceded a free kick to Saudi Arabia near the penalty arc in the 38th minute of the first half,

but goalkeeper Baek Jong-beom saved Suhaib Al-Zeid’s right-footed shot with his body to overcome the crisis.

Korea, having overcome the crisis of conceding goals,

predicted victory with Uhm Seong’s goal in the 41st minute of the first half.

When the ball from behind hit a Saudi defender, Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City) caught it and stabbed it to Hong Si-woo,

who jumped to the left of the penalty area, and Hong Si-woo scored with a right-footed shot.