Korea beat China to advance to semifinals at U-20 Asian Cup

Bae Jun-ho, left, vies for the ball with Gao Yunan during a quarterfinal match between Korea and China at the AFC U-20 Asian Cup in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Sunday. [XINHUA/YONHAP]

The U-20 Korean national football team advanced to the semifinals at the AFC U-20 Asian Cup with a 3-1 victory over China on Sunday, securing a direct ticket to the U-20 World Cup along the way.

The young Taeguk Warriors pulled off the win over a grueling 120 minutes at JAR Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The game started fairly tediously, with little to be excited about in the first half as it ended goalless, but the fireworks started in the second half.

Chinese midfielder Mutalifu Yimingkari scored the opener from a tight angle in Korea’s penalty area in the 47th minute to give his side the lead.

The young Taeguk Warriors bounced back and Kim Yong-hak leveled the score in the 62nd minute with a penalty. Neither side could score the much-needed go-ahead goal until the 90th minute, however, forcing them to go to extra time.

Sung Jin-young eventually broke the deadlock, converting a cross from Kang Seong-jin in the 99th minute. Choi Seok-hyun then headed in a third goal for the team in the 105th minute, ultimately marking a 3-1 win.

By securing a spot in the final four at the competition, Korea also earned a place in the U-20 World Cup in May.

Korea is facing the host nation Uzbekistan in the semifinals at Milliy Staidum at 7 p.m. Wednesday, or 11 p.m. in Korea.

Meanwhile, Japan also joined the last four after beating Jordan 2-0 on Sunday, putting themselves against Iraq in the semifinals.

That means the opportunity for a Korea-Japan derby in the final of the tournament for the first time since 2002 remains open, assuming both sides triumph in the semifinals.

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