"Come out, Japan!" Lee Min-sung's side devours Australia and sets up fateful Korea-Japan clash in semifinals

[The Financial News] Lee Min-sung's side, which had been driven to the brink, pulled off a dramatic comeback and survived. The South Korea national under-23 football team, which had been under heavy fire from public opinion over its poor performances throughout the group stage, defeated a tough Australia side and reclaimed a spot in the Asian semifinals for the first time in six years.
The South Korean team led by head coach Lee Min-sung beat Australia 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Asian Cup held on the 18th at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, KSA, combining an opening goal in the first half from Baek Ga-on of Busan Metropolitan City and a decisive headed winner from Shin Min-ha of Gangwon FC just before the final whistle.

With this, South Korea broke its "quarterfinal jinx" after failing to get past the last eight at the 2022 tournament in Uzbekistan and the 2024 tournament in Qatar, following its title-winning run at the 2020 event in Thailand. Above all, the match was highly significant in that the team shook off its group-stage slump and managed to secure both the result and the quality of performance.
This match showcased the tactical flexibility and game management of coach Lee Min-sung. Abandoning the 4-4-2 formation he had stubbornly stuck with throughout the group stage, Lee opted for a 4-5-1 system that reinforced the midfield. The starting lineup was also bold. He selected Baek Ga-on, who had mostly been on the bench, as the lone striker up front, and brought four new players into the starting XI, including Kim Yong-hak and Kang Min-jun of Pohang Steelers and Jang Seok-hwan of Suwon clubs, in a bid to shake things up.

The changes translated directly into performance. Attacking Australia's flanks from the opening minutes, South Korea seized the initiative and took the lead in the 21st minute of the first half through Baek Ga-on, the focal point of the tactical shift. A precise long pass from the back by Lee Hyun-yong of Suwon FC was met by Baek near the edge of the penalty arc, and he connected with a deft right-footed volley to rattle Australia's net. It was a priceless goal that finally broke open a previously stagnant attack.
But the world of competition is unforgiving. Australia's pressure intensified in the second half, and in the 7th minute they eventually equalized through Luka Jovanovic, bringing the match back to square one. As the teams traded blows and the prospect of extra time loomed, South Korea's concentration shone once again.
In the 43rd minute of the second half, just before the end of regulation, a set-piece situation produced the final twist. From the right flank, a corner kick delivered by Kang Seong-jin of Suwon clubs was met by a surging Shin Min-ha, who powered in a running header to pry open Australia's firmly shut goal once more. The attacking contribution of defender Shin Min-ha proved decisive at the critical moment.

It was a performance in stark contrast to the group stage, where the team repeatedly produced poor displays and scraped into the quarterfinals relying on other teams' results. In particular, for Lee Min-sung's side, which bears the non-negotiable task of winning gold at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya in 2026, this victory served as a crucial turning point to quell the frosty public opinion and restore the squad's confidence.
Now South Korea's gaze turns to its "eternal rival," Japan. Their semifinal opponents, Japan, advanced after cruising through the group stage with three wins and no goals conceded, then defeating Jordan on penalties in the quarterfinals. Even though they have built their squad mainly around under-21 players with an eye on the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, they have displayed solid organization, suggesting a tough contest lies ahead.
The fateful Korea-Japan showdown for a ticket to the final will kick off at 8:30 p.m. on the 20th at the same venue. Attention now turns to whether Lee Min-sung's side, having escaped a do-or-die crisis and ridden a surging wave of momentum, can topple even Japan, who pride themselves on being "Asia's strongest," and move one step closer to reclaiming the trophy for the first time in six years.


jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter