Korea beat Saudi Arabia on penalties to reach Asian Cup quarterfinals

Korea came within one minute of an early flight home on Tuesday, equalizing nine minutes into stoppage time and winning on penalties to beat Saudi Arabia and advance to the quarterfinals at the 2023 Asian Cup.

Korea's Hwang Hee-chan, right, celebrates with goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo after scoring the winning penalty in a penalty shootout at the end of the Asian Cup round of 16 match between Saudi Arabia and Korea at the Education City Stadium in Qatar on Tuesday. [AP/YONHAP]

Korea came within one minute of an early flight home on Tuesday, equalizing nine minutes into stoppage time and winning on penalties to beat Saudi Arabia and advance to the quarterfinals at the 2023 Asian Cup.

It was a nervy start for both sides at Education City Stadium in Qatar, Korea struggling to adapt to a 3-4-3 formation with Jeong Woo-yeong, Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in in front.

Korea appeared to take the momentum initially, but Saudi Arabia were quick to shut down any attacks and by the end of the half the game seemed to have shifted in the Middle Eastern side’s favor — at one point Korea saved only by the crossbar twice in as many seconds.

That shift was obvious at the start of the second half, Saudi Arabia scoring immediately from the kick-off to take a 1-0 lead.

That goal could well have been it for the game, Korea struggling to find any response for over 45 minutes despite the addition of Hwang Hee-chan and Cho Gue-sung to the attack.

Korea’s answer finally came at the last possible minute, Cho heading in an equalizer nine minutes into stoppage time to push the game into extra time.

It was quiet again in the first half of extra time, Korea manager Jurgen Klinsmann opting not to make any changes as the game pushed past the 100-minute mark.

Korea took control after the short break, but struggled to do anything with it.

Cho, having just redeemed himself for a disappointing group stage, found himself on goal without the goalkeeper on his line and appearing to panic and passed instead of attempting a shot. Lee, meanwhile, produced perhaps best shot of the game, testing the Saudi keeper but failing to get it past his outstretched hands.

With nothing going in extra time, the game advanced to penalties — potentially bad news for Korea who have been without starting keeper Kim Seung-gyu since the second game of the tournament.

With both teams scoring their first two penalties — Son and Kim Young-gwon for Korea — goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo opened the door for the Taeguk Warriors by saving Saudi Arabia’s third attempt. Cho then scored his, putting Korea 3-2 up after three penalties.

Jo came through again, saving the Saudi No. 4 to put Korea one goal away from the quarterfinals. That honor fell to Hwang Hee-chan, who fired the ball into the top right corner for the win.

The win puts Korea through to the final eight but does little to answer growing concerns over Klinsmann and his squad, who have failed to dominate against far-lower ranked teams in every single game of the tournament so far.

Klinsmann doesn’t have long to try and address those concerns — Korea will now face Australia in the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup on Friday, or at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday morning in Korea.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]