Malaysia holds Korea to a draw in the 15th minute of injury time

Qatar's Faisal Halim helped Malaysia draw 3-3 in the final round of Group E, but this surprising result also helped South Korea avoid Japan in the round of 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup.

In the 15th minute of injury time in the second half, when Malaysia was trailing 2-3, they created an earthquake. Striker Paulo Josue received the ball with his back turned in front of the Korean penalty area. Being pressed by centre-back Kim Young-gwon from behind, the Brazilian-born, Malaysian-naturalised striker still managed to turn around and pass to the edge of the penalty area to centre-forward Romel Morales - a player of Colombian origin.

With no Korean player following closely, Morales easily controlled the ball and shot low into the far corner. Goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo got a hand to the ball but could not save it.

Midfielder Faisal Halim celebrates equalizing 1-1, becoming the first Malaysian player to score against South Korea since 1985. Photo: FAM

In the technical area, coach Jurgen Klinsmann smiled mysteriously even though his team conceded. Captain Son Heung-min looked tearful, while the other players did not believe what was happening. South Korea was 107 places higher than Malaysia in FIFA rankings, but dropped two points with only seconds left. Klinsmann's team fell from the top of the table to second. However, if there is any calculation, this result helps South Korea avoid Japan in the round of 16. Japan is the number one team in Asia, according to FIFA rankings, and is considered a strong candidate with 20 players playing in Europe. However, due to a shocking loss to Iraq in the second round, they only finished second in Group D.

While many Korean players looked stunned, Malaysia burst into joy. Coach Kim Pan-gon and his staff jumped up and hugged each other. Hundreds of Malaysian spectators at Al Janoub Stadium screamed, many looking surprised.

In the same match in Group E, Bahrain were in danger of being eliminated before the final round, but a 1-0 win over Jordan helped them climb to the top of the table. In the round of 16, Bahrain will face Japan, while South Korea will face the top team in Group F, most likely Saudi Arabia.

Malaysia (yellow shirt) in the match against South Korea in the final round of Group E of the 2023 Asian Cup, at Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah City, Qatar, January 25, 2024. Photo: FAM

Malaysia were the second team to be eliminated from the tournament, after Vietnam. Today’s final match was a formality, but it was when they were at their best. At one point, Mr. Kim’s team even led 2-1, in the second half.

South Korea, who had already secured their place in the next round, still used a strong lineup with three stars: center back Kim Min-jae, midfielder Lee Kang-in and striker Son Heung-min. Kang-in himself assisted the opening goal with a corner kick from the left to the second post for midfielder Jeong Woo-yeong to jump high and head into the near corner. Goalkeeper Syihan Hazmi flew to push the ball away, but the referee judged that the ball had already crossed the goal line.

Malaysia holds Korea to a draw in the 15th minute of injury time

Main developments of the match Malaysia 3-3 Korea.

Al Janoub Stadium exploded when Malaysia was awarded a penalty in the 60th minute after defender Seol Young-Woo kicked Aiman ​​in the penalty area. Thanks to the intervention of VAR, referee Khalid Al-Turais discovered the situation and awarded the penalty. Aiman ​​himself took the penalty kick, sending the ball to the right corner, distracting goalkeeper Hyeon-woo.

Many Korean players began to worry when they were 1-2 down. But in the 83rd minute, Kang-in's class showed when he took a free kick from about 25 meters away, sending the ball over the wall and into the top corner. Goalkeeper Hazmi dived but accidentally let the ball hit his hand and hit the net, so the goal was counted as an own goal. Korea then took a 3-2 lead when Heung-min successfully scored a penalty, after center back Junior Eldstal kicked striker Oh Hyeon-Gyu's leg in the Malaysian penalty area.

The equalizer, courtesy of two naturalized South American players, saw Malaysia exit the 2023 Asian Cup with a point. That also meant Vietnam were the only Southeast Asian team to not earn a point this year. Meanwhile, the last time four Southeast Asian teams participated in the tournament in 2007, only Vietnam reached the quarterfinals.

Xuan Binh

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/malaysia-cam-hoa-han-quoc-o-phut-bu-thu-15-4705244.html