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| Cho Young-kwang of Korea (15) makes a pass between Sainey Sanyang, left, and Modou Lamin Marong, right, of Gambia during the teams' Group F match at the FIFA U-20 World Cup at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, Argentina, May 28. Yonhap |
With their knockout berth already secured, Korea has closed out their group stage at the FIFA U-20 World Cup with a goalless draw against Gambia.
Korea finished in second place in Group F with five points, two back of Gambia, after the scoreless affair at the U-20 World Cup at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, western Argentina, on Sunday (local time).
As the Group F runners-up, Korea will face Group B runners-up Ecuador in the round of 16. That match kicks off at 6 p.m. Thursday at Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero, northern Argentina, or 6 a.m. Friday in Seoul time.
Both Korea and Gambia had already booked their places in the round of 16 prior to this match. Gambia had done so after beating France on Thursday for their second straight win. Korea, who'd earlier beat France 2-1 and played Honduras to a 2-2 draw, joined them Saturday, without even playing a match, when Japan lost to Israel 2-1 in Group C action.
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| Lee Ji-han of Korea, left, and Alagie Saine of Gambia battle for the ball during the teams' Group F match at the FIFA U-20 World Cup at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, Argentina, May 28. Yonhap |
There are six groups of four in this tournament. The top two nations from each group, along with four best third-place teams, advanced to the knockout stage. Japan's loss ensured that Korea, even if they lost to Gambia in their final Group F match, would still be one of the top-four No. 3 seeds.
Korea will be making their third consecutive trip to the round of 16, after reaching that stage in 2017 and finishing as the runners-up in 2019. The 2021 edition of this biennial tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
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| Korean goalkeeper Moon Hyun-ho, center, makes a stop against Gambia during the teams' Group F match at the FIFA U-20 World Cup at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, Argentina, May 28. Yonhap |
Against Gambia, Korea head coach Kim Eun-jung replaced seven players from the starting lineup that had faced Honduras on Friday. Defender Choi Seok-hyun was automatically suspended for this match after being sent off on two yellow cards against Honduras, while goalkeeper Kim Joon-hong, too, was unavailable after picking up a yellow card in each of his past two matches.
The teams were scoreless at halftime, with Korea managing just one shot attempt against Gambia's six.
Korea showed a little more life in the second half with a half-dozen shot attempts but couldn't solve Gambia with the top seed in Group F at stake. (Yonhap)
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| Choi Ye-hoon of Korea, right, and Mansour Mbye of Gambia battle for the ball during the teams' Group F match at the FIFA U-20 World Cup at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, Argentina, May 28. Yonhap |
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