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S. Korea reaches Asian Cup semis with extra-time win over Uzbekistan

January 22, 2015
Cha Du-ri, top, congratulates Son Heung-min after the two combined to score the second goal of the game. (Yonhap)

Cha Du-ri, top, congratulates Son Heung-min after the two combined to score the second goal of the game. (Yonhap)

UPDATED (Yonhap) — South Korea defeated Uzbekistan 2-0 in extra time to reach the semifinals at the AFC Asian Cup on Thursday, taking a step closer to ending its half-century drought at the continental tournament.

Winger Son Heung-min struck twice in extra time at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium to propel South Korea to the final four for the third consecutive Asian Cup. This was South Korea’s fourth consecutive victory, dating back to group stage, and the country has yet to give up a goal.

South Korea is trying to win its first Asian Cup since 1960. Its semifinals match will be on Monday at Stadium Australia in Sydney. It will be against the winner of Friday’s quarterfinals match between Iran and Iraq in Canberra.

The 69th-ranked South Korea and the 71st-ranked Uzbekistan ended the regulation scoreless. Uzbekistan built some pressure early before South Korea turned the table.

In the 104th minute, left fullback Kim Jin-su took the ball away from Uzbekistan defender in the left side of Uzbek’s penalty box area and connected with Son, who dove to put his head on the short low cross. Goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov only got a piece of the ball, and helplessly watched the ball trickle over the goal line.

It was Son’s first goal in 11 international matches.

Son wasn’t done. Two minutes before the final whistle, Cha Du-ri stormed past multiple defenders on the right side found wide-open Son, who struck it to the top of the net to seal the deal.