On the afternoon of the 26th (local time), during the extra time of the second half of the final match between Korea and Saudi Arabia at the 2020 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship held at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] The 2020 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) South Korea U-23 football team achieved their first championship after a fierce battle with Saudi Arabia.
The South Korean team defeated Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final held on the 26th (local time) at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
In the match, neither South Korea nor Saudi Arabia created scoring opportunities. However, around the 8th minute of the second half of extra time, Jeong Taewook headed the ball into the net.
With this, the South Korean team led by coach Kim Hakbeom lifted their first AFC U-23 championship trophy.
Additionally, the South Korean team achieved the feat of winning all matches (6 wins) for the first time in the history of the AFC U-23 Championship. Following the three group stage matches (China 1-0, Iran 2-1, Uzbekistan 2-1), they recorded 'complete victories' in the quarterfinal against Jordan (2-1), the semifinal against Australia (2-0), and the final against Saudi Arabia.
The AFC U-23 Championship was first held in 2014. South Korea finished 4th in the 1st tournament, runner-up in the 2nd, 4th in the 3rd, and won the championship in the 4th.
Meanwhile, Kim Hakbeom's team is scheduled to leave Bangkok and return home in the early morning of the 28th.
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