Incheon: Jong Ilgwan broke UAE hearts as the midfielder scored deep into injury time to help North Korea march into the football semi-finals at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games at the Hwaseong Stadium on Sunday.
Just when it looked like the match was headed into 30 minutes of extra-time, Jong drove in from inside the area even as an unsighted goalkeeper Ahmad Shambieh missed following a slight deflection from Saif Al Meqbali’s foot in the second minute of injury period.
North Korea will now play Iraq in Tuesday’s semi-finals at the Incheon Main Stadium.
“I think overall we have done a great job in reaching the quarter-finals here. We had two or three chances and we should have finished off the match with these. But I have no laments as that one lapse cost us,” UAE coach Ali Ebrahim told Gulf News.
“This was a very strong and hard game and we had just 48 hours to recover after the Vietnam match. I doubt there were many people who believed we could go so far in the tournament. So I think given these conditions we have done well,” he added.
Silver medallists at the last Asian Games in Guangzhou, the UAE rode on their luck throughout an intense 92 minutes till that all-important goal from Jong.
Totally outplayed by a compact, technically superior and older opponent, the UAE did well to defend with all their might and numbers throughout, while taking their chances in mounting the odd counter-attack when opportunity presented.
The North Koreans were literally camped inside the UAE territory at any given time. And it took a lot of guts and concentration from Ali Ebrahim’s boys in not letting their guard down throughout the 90 minutes of regulation period.
The first half belonged to the North Koreans with the UAE youngsters failing to make much of an impression in the attack. The Koreans were sprawling all over the place and came close to scoring on several occasions, but for some sturdy defending from the UAE.
After a fast start, it was North Korea who settled in quicker with some well-planned attacks from either flank using the experienced Pak Kwangryong and substitute So Hyonuk, coming in place of So Kyongjin before the hour. But the resolute UAE defence simply refused to budge.
After constant prodding and near-misses, North Korea’as ts best opportunity came in the 40th minute following a corner kick. But just as Pak readied to celebrate a certain goal, defender Saif Al Meqbali followed through and brought about a goalline save.
It was a similar story in the second half as well as North Korea maintained a stranglehold on the proceedings. Eight minutes into play Pak moved into the area but Khalifa Al Hammadi dispossessed the striker in time for an abortive corner.
North Korea did finally put the ball into the net in the 57th minute when Pak tapped in past Ahmad Al Shambieh, but the goal was disallowed as substitute So Hyonuk was deemed offside on his first on the ball.
The UAE came close on two quick occasions in the 66th and 69th minutes. First, captain Saeed Al Katheeri placed his header wide off a fine cross from the lively Walid Al Mazrooei and then three minutes later, goalkeeper Ri Myongguk denied Al Mazrooei from an acute angle.
As the UAE laboured towards some rest before 30 minutes of extra-time, Jong found himself unmarked for a ball inside the area and the midfielder drove in a stiff grounder that nudged past Al Meqbali’s leg and went in for the lone goal of the match.
