Korea U-20 Advances to World Cup Quarterfinals with 3-2 Victory over Ecuador

Lee Young-jun, Bae Jun-ho, Choi Seok-hyun Score Consecutive Goals
Round of 8 Against Nigeria on the 5th

The South Korean U-20 national soccer team defeated Ecuador to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Led by coach Kim Eun-jung, the team won 3-2 against Ecuador in the round of 16 match held on the 2nd (Korean time) at the Santiago del Estero Stadium in Argentina.

The team took an early lead with stunning consecutive goals by Lee Young-jun (Gimcheon) and Bae Jun-ho (Daejeon) in the 11th and 19th minutes of the first half. Although they conceded a goal due to a questionable penalty decision in the 36th minute of the first half, they regained momentum with a header by Choi Seok-hyun (Dankook University) from a corner kick in the 3rd minute of the second half. The team conceded another goal in the 38th minute of the second half but successfully defended against Ecuador's attacks to maintain a one-goal victory.

South Korea's U-20 World Cup forward Lee Young-jun scored the opening goal with a powerful right-footed shot in the 11th minute of the first half during the Round of 16 match against Ecuador at the Santiago del Estero Stadium in Argentina on the 2nd (Korean time) at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The team has reached the quarterfinals for the second consecutive tournament, following their runner-up finish in 2019. South Korea will face Nigeria in the quarterfinals. The quarterfinal match is scheduled to take place on the 5th at 2:30 AM at the Santiago del Estero Stadium.