Comeback Win Over China With Consecutive Headers... One Step Away From 4th Consecutive Title

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The Asian Games men's football national team defeated China to advance to the finals. They will now challenge for a historic fourth consecutive Asian Games title in the final against Japan on October 3.

Reporter Hong Seok-jun is on the scene.

[Reporter]

The national team, primarily composed of players under the age of 23, suffered an early blow in the 22nd minute of the first half against China, a team they had lost to in their last two consecutive matches at the age-group level.

In a counter-attack situation, Wang Yudong penetrated the defensive line to receive a lobbed pass, scoring China's first shot and then performing a provocative celebration by dancing to a trendy K-pop group's choreography.

Cornered, the national team mounted a fierce counterattack and eventually leveled the score in the 33rd minute of the first half.

Um Ji-sung delivered a corner kick, which Lee Young-jun met with a towering header. The ball brushed the opposing goalkeeper's hand and curled into the back of the net for the equalizer.

Lee Young-jun, who scored multiple goals in the previous quarterfinals, registered his third goal of the tournament and responded to the jeers of the Chinese crowd with a gesture.

The national team struggled to crack the opponent's goal afterward, and hearts skipped a beat in the 34th minute of the second half when defender Kim Ji-soo cleared a ball that narrowly missed the side of the goal.

Amidst the frustrating flow, the European-based players stepped up as saviors once again.

In the 37th minute of the second half, Um Ji-sung delivered a sharp cross, and Bae Jun-ho soared to find the back of the net with a header.

Bae Jun-ho, who had been agonizing over a lack of attacking points in this tournament, marked his first goal of the competition with a precious comeback winner.

Securing a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory to reach the final, the national team is now just one win away from an unprecedented fourth consecutive championship.

[Bae Jun-ho / Asian Games Men's Football National Team: (After scoring the comeback goal) I was really happy, but I think I also felt a deep sense of relief. Now, we need to put all other excuses aside and charge straight toward the championship.]

Having overcome a major hurdle, the national team will play the much-anticipated final against Japan two days later.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
(Video Reporter: Yang Doo-won, Video Editor: Lee Hong-myeong)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.