Kim Eun-jung-ho added a point in the final game to finish second in the group and advance to the round of 16. Their next opponent will be South America’s Ecuador, who they will meet for the first time in four years.
Kim Eun-Joong’s South Korea U-20 team drew 0-0 with the Gambia in their third match of Group F at the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023 at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, Argentina on Monday at 6 a.m. ET.
With the result, South Korea remains in second place in the group with one win and two draws (5 points) and advances to the Round of 16. They will now face Group B runner-up Ecuador on March 2 for a spot in the quarterfinals. South Korea previously beat Ecuador 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the 2019 tournament, where they finished as runners-up. The Gambia, who topped the group with two wins and a draw (7 points), will meet Group E runner-up Uruguay.
South Korea started with a 4-1-2-3 formation. Lee Ji-han, Lee Young-joon, and Kang Sung-jin were up front, with Park Hyun-bin and Lee Seung-won protecting the back. Lee Chan-wook was the defensive midfielder, while Choi Ye-hoon, Kim Ji-soo, Hwang In-taek, and Cho Young-kwang formed the back line. Moon Hyun-ho was in goal. Kim Jun-hong and Choi Seok-hyun were unavailable due to accumulated cautions and a red card, respectively.
The Gambia countered with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Adama Bojang started up top, while Mansour Mbier, Bailly Ba and Modou Lamine Marong formed the second line. Muhammed Jobe-Mamoudou Bajo supported the back four, while Saini Hunt-Alaji Sein-Dembo Saidikan-Bakari Zawara formed the defense. Paebu Dampa wore the goalkeeping gloves.
South Korea opened the scoring first. In the 11th minute, after a short ball on a corner kick opportunity, Kang Sung-jin unleashed a bold left-footed shot, but the ball hit the defense and deflected, forcing another corner kick.
The Gambia fought back. In the 22nd minute, Bojang got on the end of a cross from the left, and he tried to head it in unchallenged, but luckily the ball went wide of the goal.
After a cautious start, the Gambia had their first shot on target in a long time. On a free kick in the 35th minute, Saidikhan headed the ball back into the box, but the distance was too much for goalkeeper Moon Hyun-ho to handle.
South Korea made a substitution at the start of the second half. Kim Eun-joong made a change, bringing off Lee Seung-won and introducing Kang Sang-yoon.
Moon Hyun-ho saved South Korea with a super save. In the second minute of the second half, a cross from the right was headed in by Mbier and Bojang headed it back in. The ball was headed for the corner of the goal, but goalkeeper Moon Hyun-ho stretched out his arm and pushed it aside.
South Korea had a shot on target after a long time. In the 11th minute, Kang Sung-jin cut in from the right and tried a left-footed curling shot that was blocked by the goalkeeper. Coach Kim Eun-joong took off Kang Sung-jin and Lee Chan-wook in the 12th minute and brought on Kim Yong-hak and Bae Jun-ho.
Moon Hyun-ho once again made a stunning save. In the 22nd minute, Salifu Kohli’s shot deflected off the defense and headed toward the goal, but Moon Hyun-ho stretched out his left arm to touch the ball even though he was caught in the middle of the action. He also had the good fortune to see the rebound hit the post, saving South Korea a goal.
The Gambia rattled the net, but it was ruled out for offside. In the 25th minute, Mamin Hunt’s cross from the left side of the box was met by Bozang’s knee. However, Bojang’s position was well ahead of the defense line. South Korea immediately took off Lee Ji-han and brought on Lee Seung-jun. 토토사이트
The game got hotter and hotter. In the 26th minute, Lee Seung-jun attempted a shot from the left side of the box, but his effort was caught by the goalkeeper with no power. In the 34th minute, Kim Yong-hak sent a good pass into the box, but the Gambian defense cleared it away. In the 36th minute, Bojang’s left-footed turning shot narrowly missed the side netting.
Seven minutes of second-half stoppage time were awarded, but no goals were scored. The two teams exchanged chances down the stretch, but neither could find the back of the net. In the end, the fiercely contested final group game ended in a 0-0 draw. South Korea went through the group stage undefeated, while also taking care of their health.