Korea's 1993 Miracle Confirming World Cup in Doha
2022 Second Away Round of 16 Comeback Victory Miracle
Round of 8 Match at 4 AM on 6th, Doha Stadium 974 Anticipation
Japan Also from 1993 Doha Tragedy to This Time's Doha Miracle
On the morning of the 3rd (Korean time), at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, the national team players who secured a 2-1 victory over Portugal in the third match of Group H in the 2022 Qatar World Cup group stage are celebrating their advancement to the round of 16. As South Korea and Japan both succeeded in advancing to the Round of 16 in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, renewed attention is being drawn to the connection between Doha, Qatar, and the two countries.
Before the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup semifinal miracle, the most dramatic moment in South Korean football history was known as the "Miracle of Doha."
In the final match of the Asian qualifiers for the 1994 USA World Cup held in Doha, Qatar in 1993, South Korea defeated North Korea 3-0 and anxiously awaited the result of Japan's match.
At that time, Japan was leading Iraq 2-1 but conceded an equalizing goal to Iraq just before the end of the match.
Thanks to that goal, South Korea secured a ticket to the World Cup finals, while Japan missed out on the World Cup ticket right before their eyes.
It remains a scene remembered as the "Miracle of Doha" for South Korea and the "Tragedy of Doha" for Japanese football.
Japanese players collapsed on the ground in tears at that time, including Hajime Moriyasu, then a midfielder for the national team and now the head coach of the Japan national football team.
Moriyasu, who was part of the "Tragedy of Doha," succeeded in creating the greatest moment in Japanese football history again in Doha, Qatar, 29 years later.
On the 2nd (Korean time), Japan achieved a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Spain in the third group stage match of Group E at the Khalifa International Stadium in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Foreign media also focused on Moriyasu’s story, who freed Japanese football from the "Tragedy of Doha" after 29 years.
The Associated Press reported, "Moriyasu, who experienced the tragedy as a national team midfielder 29 years ago, has now been rewarded as a coach."
Moriyasu himself said he recalled the "Tragedy of Doha" one minute before the end of the match.
Japan conceded the opening goal to Spain’s Alvaro Morata in the 11th minute of the first half, but Doan Ritsu scored the equalizer in the 48th minute, followed by Tanaka Ao’s winning goal three minutes later.
By a twist of fate, the same "2-1" scoreline as the match against Iraq 29 years ago was created.
For this reason, after the match, Moriyasu admitted, "About one minute before the end, the Tragedy of Doha came to mind."
While Japan turned the Tragedy of Doha into a miracle, South Korea completed a "second miracle."
On the morning of the 2nd (Korean time) at Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, the Group E third match of the 2022 Qatar World Cup between Japan and Spain took place. Japanese players, who secured a 2-1 victory, are cheering after the match ended.
On the 3rd (Korean time), South Korea came from behind to win 2-1 against Portugal in the final group stage match of Group H at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, with consecutive goals by Kim Young-gwon and Hwang Hee-chan.
South Korean national team striker Cho Gue-sung (24, Jeonbuk) said, "It really feels like a miracle happened."
Son Heung-min (Tottenham), the captain of the national team who led South Korea’s second-ever "away Round of 16 advancement" with his "mask fighting spirit," said, "Starting tomorrow, I hope we can write another miracle with a new mindset."
The South Korean team will face Group G leader Brazil in the Round of 16 match at Stadium 974 in Doha at 4 a.m. on the 6th (local time, 10 p.m. on the 5th).
The Miracle of Doha is still ongoing.
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