Coach Jürgen Klinsmann and the South Korean national soccer team are in the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup after a late comeback. In the round of 16 against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday (January 30, 2024), the two-time title winners prevailed 4-2 on penalties (1-1, 1-1, 0-0) despite being long behind and will now face Australia.
Abdullah Radif (46′), who was substituted at half-time, gave the Saudis the lead straight after the break. In front of the spectators at the Education City Stadium in Ar-Rayyan/Qatar, South Korea saved Bayern Munich defender Min-Jae Kim and top star Heung-Min Son (Tottenham) in stoppage time with a goal from Gue-sung Cho (90+9). into extension. South Korea held its nerve in the penalty shootout, with former Leipzig and Hamburg player Hee-Chan Hwang converting the decisive penalty.
Uzbekistan books this against Thailand Round of 16 ticket
In the first game of the day, Uzbekistan booked their quarter-final ticket with a 2-1 (1-0) win against Thailand. Azizbek Turgunbojew (37th) and Abbosbek Faysullayev (65th) scored for the Uzbeks. Supachok Sarachat scored the equalizer for Thailand (58th). Uzbekistan will play hosts Qatar in the quarter-finals on Saturday (4:30 p.m.).
Former national coach Klinsmann’s South Korean team finished the preliminary round in second place in Group E with just one win and two draws. In the quarter-finals on Friday (4.30 p.m. CET) against the Socceroos, a place in the medal games will be at stake. A title would mean the end of a 64-year drought for the South Koreans.
The 59-year-old Klinsmann took over the South Korean team in March 2023 and his contract runs until after the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Against Saudi Arabia, as he often did in the tournament, he relied on Wooyeong Jeong from VfB Stuttgart, Minjae Kim from FC Bayern Munich and Jaesung Lee from FSV Mainz 05. The trio is still missing from the Bundesliga clubs due to their place in the quarter-finals.