The South Korean U-23 football team defeated China 2-1 in the semifinals of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Nagai Stadium in Osaka on September 30, advancing to the final and moving one step closer to a fourth consecutive title.
The decisive moment came from the team's star playmaker, Baek Jun-ho (Stoke City), who scored the winning goal in the 81st minute, connecting with a cross from Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City). This marked Baek's first goal of the tournament, and it proved to be the match-winner.
Earlier in the match, China took the lead in the 22nd minute when Wang Yidong capitalized on a quick break, calmly finishing with his left foot. However, South Korea equalized in the 32nd minute when Eom Ji-sung's corner kick was met by Lee Young-jun (Grasshopper), whose precise header found the net after deflecting off Chinese goalkeeper Li Hao.
The match remained tightly contested until the end, but Baek Jun-ho emerged as the hero in a critical moment. South Korea had previously topped Group D with victories over Qatar (4-1) and Saudi Arabia (2-0) and continued their unbeaten streak by defeating Vietnam 4-0 in the quarterfinals. Although they conceded their first goal of the tournament, they ultimately secured the win.
Under the guidance of head coach Lee Min-seong, South Korea aims for its fourth consecutive title, having previously won in Incheon in 2014, Jakarta-Palembang in 2018, and Hangzhou in 2022. They will face the winner of the Uzbekistan-Japan match, scheduled for 7:30 PM on October 3, in the final.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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