Photo by Rajan Vadakkemuriyil/The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: The clash of heavyweights, Saudi Arabia vs. South Korea, will be the closing match for today.
The Saudi Arabian team and the South Korean team will face-off in what will undoubtedly be a nail-biter.
The South Korean Taeguk Warriors have amassed an impressive 8 goals so far and are among the highest scoring teams in the tournament. The Saudis have only managed to net half of that.
However, the Saudi Arabian Green Falcons are inversely one of the strongest teams in terms of defense, conceding only a single goal throughout the Group Stage games to South Korea’s 6 goals conceded.
Despite both nations being Asian football powerhouses, both teams have experienced prolonged droughts in terms of championships, with the South Korean side last winning the coveted Asian trophy in 1960, and the Saudi side’s last Asian Cup triumph being their successful 1996 campaign. Tonight one of the two teams will come even closer to ending this drought.
The Green Falcons and the Taeguk Warriors will battle it out at the Education City Stadium, with the winner of this match going on to face the Australian side at the Quarter-Finals.
Stay tuned as we bring you match highlights and a glimpse of the football atmosphere at the Education City Stadium.
South Korea and Uzbekistan join Australia, Tajikistan, Jordan and Qatar in the Asian Cup 2023 Round of 8!#Qatar2023 #HayyaAsia #AsianCup2023
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) January 30, 2024
⚽ https://t.co/O6LFArmv0a pic.twitter.com/A8aa7tL6O9
⚽Match Highlights
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) January 30, 2024
South Korea beat Saudi Arabia (4-2) in a penalty shootout to reach Asian Cup last 8. Here are some action shots during the intense match at the packed Education City Stadium!
⚽ https://t.co/O6LFArmv0a#Qatar2023 #HayyaAsia #AsianCup2023 #SouthKorea… pic.twitter.com/SyTKkHRblW
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FULL TIME
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) January 30, 2024
⏱️ 120' + 4'
Saudi Arabia 1 (2p) - Korea Republic 1 (4p)
The Taeguk Warriors are through! Both teams gave it their all and entertained the crowd at Education City Stadium with top-tier football, in a game for the ages that saw #SouthKorea emerge victorious over a… pic.twitter.com/7SnTQGPdip
SOUTH KOREA WINS!!!
Hwang Hee Chan converts his team's last penalty. That's the game. South Korea are through to the quarter finals.#Qatar2023 #HayyaAsia #AsianCup2023 #KSAvKOR
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) January 30, 2024
120' + 4'
30 minutes of the Extra Time period officially over. This game is headed towards a fateful penalty shootout. Both teams fought hard and are exhausted, both have played some very beautiful football during the past 120 minutes, but now unfortunately, one has to go home.
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SUBSTITUTION
Kim Min-Jae ---> OUT
IN <--- Park Jin-Seop
South Korea's defender #04 Kim Min-jae shoots the ball past Saudi Arabia's forward #11 Saleh al-Shehri uring the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup football match between Saudi Arabia and South Korea at Education City Stadium in al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on January 30, 2024. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP)
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Only 10 mins of the Extra Time period left, as it stands, both teams are headed towards a dramatic penalty shootout.
South Korea's midfielder #11 Hwang Hee-chan controls the ball past Saudi Arabia's defender #17 Hassan al-Tambakti during the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup football match between Saudi Arabia and South Korea at Education City Stadium in al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on January 30, 2024. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP)
KOREA EQUALIZES AT THE DEATH!
GOAL!
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) January 30, 2024
⏱️99' + 8'
Saudi Arabia 1-1 South Korea
South Korea's G S Cho nets the equalizer 2 minutes before regulation time ends! The game is still on!
⚽⚽ LIVE MATCH: https://t.co/O6LFArmv0a#Qatar2023 #HayyaAsia #AsianCup2023 #KSAvKOR
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GOAL!
46' minutes: Saudi Arabia 1-0 Korea Republic
Saudi Arabia ambushes the Korean side with a quick attack that Abdullah Radif slides past Jo Hyeon Woo
HALF TIME!
HALF TIME
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) January 30, 2024
⏱️ 45' + 2'
Saudi Arabia 0-0 Korea
No team is better than the other at the half time mark as both teams are equally cautious, with Saudi Arabia having the most dangerous attempt on goal throughout the entire first 45'.
⚽⚽ LIVE MATCH: https://t.co/O6LFArmv0a… pic.twitter.com/6aMhJd7nQ7
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34' minutes: Saudi Arabia 0-0 Korea Republic
In the first 30 minutes of the game, it's been a cautious yet goalless affair as both Saudi Arabia and Korea Republic focus on not conceding early.
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) January 30, 2024
⚽⚽ LIVE MATCH: https://t.co/O6LFArmv0a#Qatar2023 #HayyaAsia #AsianCup2023 #KSAvKOR pic.twitter.com/DRyNWoaRyF
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Match starts
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Teams Arrival !
The Saudi Arabia and Korea Republic national teams have made their grand arrival at Education City Stadium, gearing up for their much-awaited match.
Saudi Arabia
???????? The Green Falcons make their way into the Education City Stadium!
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) January 30, 2024
Feeling good ahead of the big match-up ????#AsianCup2023 | #HayyaAsia | #KSAvKOR pic.twitter.com/obkdVgSKqd
Korea Republic
???????? A true big match feeling here as the Korea Republic players arrive!
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) January 30, 2024
Will they be the ones to move into the Quarter-Finals today?#AsianCup2023 | #HayyaAsia | #KSAvKOR pic.twitter.com/JJFDn5Cc9I
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Fan Focus! Fans of Saudi Arabia and Korea gather outside Education City Stadium.
