Hwang Sun-hong's Team Suffers Shocking Penalty Shootout Defeat to Indonesia... Korean Football Fails to Qualify for Olympics for the First Time in 40 Years

Shin Tae-yong's Indonesia Draws 2-2 After Extra Time
Losers 10-11 on Penalties, 'Eliminated in Quarterfinals'

The South Korea U-23 soccer team, led by coach Hwang Sun-hong, was eliminated from the Olympic stage for the first time in 40 years after losing in a penalty shootout against the Indonesia national soccer team, coached by Shin Tae-yong.

On the 26th (Korean time), the South Korea U-23 team played against Indonesia in the quarterfinals of the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar. After a 2-2 draw over 120 minutes including extra time, South Korea lost 10-11 in the penalty shootout.

With this quarterfinal exit, South Korean soccer failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time since the 1984 Los Angeles (LA) Games, ending a 40-year streak. This tournament also served as the final Asian qualifying round for the 2024 Paris Olympics men's soccer. To qualify for the Olympics, teams needed to reach at least the semifinals. The top three teams in this tournament earn direct tickets to Paris, while the fourth-place team must go through intercontinental playoffs to determine qualification. South Korea had qualified for every Olympic final stage since the 1988 Seoul Olympics but failed to do so for the 10th consecutive time after this quarterfinal loss.

On the other hand, Indonesia secured their first victory against South Korea's U-23 team and continued their challenge to reach the finals for the first time in 68 years since the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Prior to this, South Korea had won all five matches against Indonesia's U-23 team. Coach Shin signed a contract extension with the Indonesia Football Association until 2027 before the match.

[Photo by Yonhap News]

South Korea fell behind early and struggled throughout the match.

In the 9th minute of the first half, Lee Kang-hee scored with a long-range shot from a free kick, but the goal was canceled after a video assistant referee (VAR) review ruled it offside.

South Korea continued to be pressured and conceded the opening goal in the 15th minute. Indonesia's Rafael Struijk scored from the left side of the penalty arc with a long-range shot.

Indonesia maintained their offensive pressure, and South Korea struggled to find rhythm. In the 45th minute, South Korea equalized due to an own goal by Indonesia. Um Ji-sung connected a header from a cross coming from the right, which hit Indonesian defender Komang Teguh and goalkeeper Hernando Ari before going into the net.

Just three minutes later, South Korea conceded a second goal due to a defensive mistake. A ball played directly from Indonesia's backline was mishandled by Lee Kang-hee and Baek Jong-beom, allowing Struijk to take a shot and score.

South Korea held only 48% possession in the first half, trailing Indonesia, and were outshot 1-7, with no shots on target compared to Indonesia's three.

Coach Hwang made three substitutions at the start of the second half to try to change the momentum.

He brought in Lee Young-jun, who had scored three goals and was the team's top scorer in the tournament, along with Jeong Sang-bin and Kang Sang-yoon. However, Lee Young-jun was sent off with a red card in the 70th minute after kicking the ankle of opposing center-back Justin Hubner during a confrontation.

[Photo by Yonhap News]

Despite being a man down, South Korea did not ease their attack and finally equalized in the 84th minute. Jeong Sang-bin received a pass from Hong Yoon-sang and scored with a right-footed shot from the left side of Indonesia's penalty area.

However, the goddess of victory was not on South Korea's side. Coach Hwang was sent off with a red card for protesting just before the end of the second half, and the match ended 2-2, leading to extra time.

Neither team scored during the 30 minutes of extra time. In the penalty shootout, all five initial kickers from both sides scored, maintaining intense tension. Ultimately, after the 12th kicker took a shot, Indonesia advanced to the semifinals following the nerve-wracking shootout.