U-23 Korea lose 11-10 penalty shootout to Indonesia, missing Olympics qualification

Korea's U-23 team lost to Indonesia in penalties, failing to reach the Olympics for the first time in 40 years. Sloppy defense, red card, and missed penalty resulted in the heartbreaking defeat, ending their nine consecutive Olympic qualifications.

The U-23 Korean national team reacts after losing a penalty shootout to Indonesia during the quarterfinals of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar on Thursday. [NEWS1]

Korea lost 11-10 on penalties to Indonesia after a 2-2 draw in the quarterfinals of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup on Thursday, failing to reach the Olympics for the first time in 40 years.

It was a do-or-die game at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar for both sides, as the losing side would lose a chance to advance to the Paris Olympics. The Asian Cup serves as a Paris Olympics qualifying event in which the top three finishers earn direct tickets to the Games.

Korea were off to a shaky start, conceding the opening goal to Rafael Struick, who struck the ball from the edge of the penalty area in the 15th minute.

Korea’s defense looked sloppy, mistiming a few passes and giving the ball away in their own territory, nearly leading to a second goal. Indonesia were quick and lethal when breaking forward.

The young Taeguk Warriors, however, leveled with Eom Ji-sung capitalizing on a cross from Hong Si-hoo in the 45th minute — albeit with the help of deflection by Komang Teguh. The goal counted as Teguh’s own goal.

But a clumsy defense cost Korea another goal. Defender Cho Hyun-taek and midfielder Lee Kang-hee failed to make proactive movements after Struick received the ball inside the penalty area and calmly slotted it in to make it 2-1 before the halftime whistle.

The second half saw Korea going one player down after a red card against forward Lee Young-joon in the 70th minute for a heavy physical challenge on Justin Hubner. Head coach Hwang Sun-hong also received a red card later in the stoppage time for a strong complaint to the referee.

Korea still equalized in the absence of Lee — who had scored three goals in two group stage games — capitalizing on a counterattack that saw Jeong Sang-bin smashing in a shot in the 83rd minute.

Korea's Jeong Sang-bin, center, celebrates scoring a goal during the quarterfinals of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup against Indonesia at at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar on Thursday. [YONHAP]

The game went all the way to a penalty shootout during which the two sides scored all penalties but their sixth shot. But Lee Kang-hee missed Korea’s 11th penalty, while Pratama Arhan scored next and won the penalties 11-10, sending his side through the Asian Cup semifinals for the first time in history.

Thursday’s victory made Shin Tae-young the first manager to achieve the feat with Indonesia. Shin was previously the senior Korean national team manager, who led the squad in the 2018 World Cup.

As for Korea, their record of qualifying for the Olympics came to an end at nine straight times. It still remains as the most consecutive times a team has qualified for the Games.

Failing to reach the Olympics also means no chance for mandatory military service exemption for the U-23 squad. In the Olympics, a bronze medal or higher grants players exemption.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]