Asian Games: South Korea edge past Uzbekistan in thrilling quarter-final encounter to keep Son’s military exemption hopes alive
South Korea advance to semi-final with narrow extra-time win over 10-man Uzbekistan
Level at 3-3 at the end of 90 minutes of a pulsating tie, the match went to extra time, and South Korean substitute Hwang Hee-chan sealed the win with four minutes to go before a penalty shoot-out.
The build-up suggested we could see the game of the tournament so far, and the clash delivered on that.
Both teams had impressed in patches during the qualifying stage, Uzbekistan progressing with a perfect record including a last-16 win over Hong Kong, and with South Korea bolstered by a fired-up Son Heung-min there was potential for a match high on quality.
South Korea opened the scoring after just five minutes with Hwang Ui-jo netting his first of an impressive hat-trick.
Jaloliddin Masharipov hit back for the defending AFC under-23 champions 12 minutes later, before Hwang Ui-jo restored Korea’s lead to 2-1 at the interval.
The second half started at a ferocious pace, and it was Uzbekistan who emerged the better side equalising and taking the lead with 12 minutes of the restart through Ikromjon Alibaeva and a Hwang Hyun-soo own goal respectively.