Son Heung-Min has led South Korea to the Asian Cup semifinals after they defeated a 10-man Australia 2-1 after extra time.
It was another late show from the Taeguk Warriors, as they equalised with a 94th minute penalty after being behind for all of the second half up to that point, before Son scored an inch perfect free-kick to punch South Korea's ticket to the semifinals.
Despite having much of the ball - and a disallowed goal in the first half - Korea failed to register a shot on goal, and it was Australia who looked more threatening; they made this count in the 42nd minute when Craig Goodwin scored in his second successive match with a well taken volley after a Nathaniel Atkinson cross.
The game followed the same pattern in the second half, with South Korea dominating possession but failing to have the quality pass in the final third, whilst Australia created multiple opportunities on the break.
Australia should have scored at least once, as Martin Boyle and Mitch Duke squandered big chances to seal the game as the half wore on.
And the Socceroos would be punished in a big way for their profligacy as substitute Lewis Miller's lazy challenge on Son gave Hwang Hee-Chan the opportunity to convert from the spot, and he did just that to send the game to extra time.
Australia disintegrated in extra time, as another needless challenge from Miller allowed Son to score his breathtaking free-kick in the 104th minute, before Aiden O'Neill's reckless studs up lunge saw him receive a straight red card, and left Australia with too much of a mountain to climb.
Australia head home in the quarterfinals for a second tournament in a row - and a third time under Graham Arnold - whilst South Korea march on to a semifinal clash against Jordan.
The Sporting News was following the Australia vs South Korea match live, providing score updates, commentary, and highlights as they happened
MORE: Asian Cup fixtures, results, schedule
Australia vs South Korea live score
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| Australia | 1 | Goodwin 42' |
|
South Korea |
2 | Hwang Hee-Chan 90+6', Son Heung-Min 104' |
Australia vs South Korea live updates, highlights, and commentary
FULL TIME
IT'S ALL OVER, SOUTH KOREA ARE INTO THE SEMIFINALS! They looked down and out as the game went into stoppage time with Australia in the lead, but a foul from Lewis Miller in the box allowed Hwang Hee-Chan to level the game in added time once again and send the game to extra time. Australia were arguably the better team to that point, but self-destructed in extra time as Son Heung-Min put South Korea ahead with a wonderful free-kick, before Aiden O'Neill was sent off for a studs up challenge. South Korea will face off against Jordan, whilst Australia bow out in the quarterfinals for the second tournament in a row.
120+1 minutes: A final change for Korea as Lee Kang-In comes off for Jung Sung-Hyun.
120th minute: Maty Ryan makes another brilliant double save to keep Australia in the game at the death.
118th minute: The game has petered out somewhat as Australia are fatiguing quickly and Korea are content to see the game out with an extra man advantage.
113th minute: Korea have acres of space as Australia send numbers forward; Son Heung-Min should seal the game as he has a great opportunity, but he uncharacteristically drags his shot wide.
112th minute: Son has a pop from distance, but it's straight down the throat of Ryan.
106th minute: Korea make two changes, as Park Yong-Woo and Hwang Hee-Chan make their exit, with Park Jin-Seob and Oh Hyun-Gyu replacing them. Harry Souttar has also been moved to centre forward for Australia, as they look to use his towering height as a desperate plan B to get back in this game.
106th minute: Second half of extra time begins, can Australia pull off a miracle?
WATCH THE GOAL IN AUSTRALIA:
WATCH THE GOAL IN USA:
HALF TIME EXTRA TIME
An eventful 15 minutes has seen Korea hit the lead thanks to a Son Heung-Min stunner, and Australia have also been reduced to 10 men after Aiden O'Neill received a straight red card. The Socceroos, after being minutes from a semifinal, are now staring down the barrel of defeat.
105th minute: The referee has been instructed to go to the screen, and after review has opted to give O'Neill a straight red card. After being so close to a semifinal, Australia's game has completely unravelled.
105th minute: VAR is currently looking to see if O'Neill's challenge is worthy of a red card...
105th minute: Aiden O'Neill is booked, and he will miss the semifinal should Australia pull off a comeback of their own.
105th minute: Australia have been on their feet for much of extra time as South Korea have the momentum and belief. It's hard to see Australia getting back into this game at this rate.
104th minute: GOOOAAALLLL!!!!!! SON HEUNG-MIN SCORES A BRILLAINT FREE-KICK TO PUT KOREA AHEAD! Another silly foul from Miller gives South Korea's star man a chance from the edge of the area, and he makes no mistake as he curls a perfect set piece into the top corner, with Ryan not able to keep it out despite getting the merest of hands to the ball.
95th minute: A massive double save from Ryan as he firstly denies Hwang's volleyed effort, and he then denies the striker again with the follow up effort from close range.
92nd minute: Australia make their final change, as Duke leaves the field for Bruno Fornaroli.
91st minute: Extra time begins at the Al Janoub, can Australia lift themselves after the mental anguish of conceding the stoppage time goal?
Watch the goal in Australia:
FULL TIME
The teams can't be split after 90 minutes and we will go to extra time! South Korea have pulled off another late show with a 96th minute penalty after Australia took the lead in the first half thanks to Craig Goodwin. South Korea dominated possession without creating many clear cut opportunities, whilst Mitch Duke and Martin Boyle had guilt edged opportunities to make the game safe. Australia were left to rue their wastefulness when Lewis Miller's silly challenge gave Hwang Hee-Chan an opportunity from the spot, one he did not waste.
90+6 minutes: HWANG HEE-CHAN CONVERTS, SOUTH KOREA EQUALISE!!!!!!! Maty Ryan guesses the right way, but the penalty is fantastic, hit with power into the top corner. It's a fourth stoppage time equaliser in a row for South Korea, and we look like we're heading to extra time.
90+4 minutes: PENALTY KOREA! Son Heung-Min's silky feet is too much for Lewis Miller to handle, fouling the winger, giving the referee no choice but to point to the spot.
90+1 minutes: Kim Min Jae is given a yellow card for manhandling Bos, and he will miss the semifinal should Korea qualify.
90th minute: There will be seven minutes of added time, more than enough time for yet another South Korea late show...
86th minute: Australia make a final and defensive change, with Martin Boyle making way for centre back Cameron Burgess.
85th minute: Another change for Korea, as Tae-Hwan Kim is replaced by Hyun-Jun Yang.
84th minute: That should have been the ball game for Australia! The Socceroos ruthlessly break forward, and Bos' cross is deflected into the path of Duke, but somehow his diving header goes wide with the goal gaping. Another huge moment in this match.
80th minute: Thankfully for Australia, Ryan is on his feet and the game resumes.
78th minute: Lee Kang-In dinks a lovely ball into the box and the path of Lee Jae-Sung, but Ryan is out bravely to deny him, though he is now down after receiving a knock, which is a worry due to Ryan's recent facial injury.
77th minute: Hwang Im-Beom has been replaced by Hong Hyun-Seok in midfield.
76th minute: The ball sits up nicely for McGree, who tries to sidefoot a volley in from the edge of the area, but he can't control the effort. Despite Korea dominating possession, Australia have had eight more shots than them.
74th minute: Miller's first contribution is to send a long throw into the box, and Duke is able to meet it with his head, though Cho is able to save it.
72nd minute: Two more changes for Australia, with Lewis Miller replacing Atkinson, whilst the goalscorer Goodwin's night is done and he is replaced by Jordan Bos.
69th minute: Both sides make their first changes, as Riley McGree and Aiden O'Neill replace Keanu Baccus and Connor Metcalfe, whilst Cho Gue-Sung leaves the pitch for South Korea is replaced by Lee Jae-Sung.
60th minute: Korea have been getting into good positions, but their final ball has been lacking, and they are also leaving plenty of gaps for Australia to exploit - which is something they are known for under Graham Arnold.
54th minute: How have Australia not scored there?! A brilliant cross from Goodwin is headed by Boyle straight at the keeper, who then saves Boyle's instant follow up; the ball then falls to Mitch Duke, who somehow smashes a near open goal well over the bar. A huge moment in the match, will Australia live to regret that?
49th minute: South Korea start strong, as Seol Young-Woo sends in a ball from the left, it falls to Lee Kang-In, but luckily for the Socceroos his shot is tame and straight at Ryan.
46th minute: Back underway in the second quarterfinal, South Korea have been brilliant in the latter stages of games, especially wit stoppage time equalisers, can they pull off another comeback?
Half time: Watch Craig Goodwin's goal in Australia:
Watch in USA:
HALF TIME
Australia hold a narrow 1-0 lead thanks to Craig Goodwin after a fast-paced first half in this Asian Cup quarterfinal. South Korea had more of the ball and were starting to put Australia under pressure, but Craig Goodwin's well taken volley after a Hwang In-Beom mistake means the Socceroos head into the break with a precious lead. South Korea had a goal disallowed in the 32nd minute after a narrow offside, whilst Connor Metcalfe probably should have scored for Australia. Everything still to play for at the Al Janoub Stadium!
45th minute: As two minutes of added time are announced, Harry Souttar picks up a silly yellow card, which would rule him out of the semifinal if Australia are to make it. Could be a crucial one in this game and beyond.
42nd minute: GOOOOAAALLLLL FOR AUSTRALIA! IT'S CRAIG GOODWIN AGAIN! An awful pass from Hwang In-Beom gifts possession to Goodwin, and the ball is worked across the box to Atkinson, who is able to hang the ball up to the back post, Goodwin has all the time in the world to volley the ball low and hard at the near post, giving Cho no chance. Perhaps slightly against the run of play, but Australia hold a crucial lead on the cusp of halftime.
41st minute: A nice sequence of play leads to another Metcalfe opportunity from outside the box, but he puts too much power on it and it goes over the bar.
39th minute: Martin Boyle has a snapshot from distance, but he hits it horribly and it goes harmlessly wide of the goal.
34th minute: South Korea have their tails up and are putting Australia under a mountain of pressure, can they get the opening goal to reward their play?
32nd minute: South Korea have the ball in the back of the net after a brilliantly worked move, but the finisher Hwang Hee-Chan is adjudged to be offside and the goal will not stand. A big warning sign for the Socceroos, though...
21st minute: A fantastic ball from the midfield finds Son Heung-Min, but before he can get a shot away, Harry Souttar and Maty Ryan smother the danger.
20th minute: Huge chance for Australia! Craig Goodwin does brilliantly to break through the lines and gets a shot away, his shot is saved by Cho, and the follow up is somehow missed by Metcalfe, who essentially had an open goal.
18th minute: Australia with a rare foray forward gives Connor Metcalfe a chance on goal, but with the first shot of the game he drags it wide of the near post.
10th minute: South Korea having the majority of the ball in the opening stages of this one, though that could suit an Australia side that has impressed in the World Cup and in other big games with a counter-attacking style.
5th minute: No major incident's to begin the game, as both sides look to gain control and test each other's weaknesses.
KICK OFF
The action begins at the Al Janoub Stadium! Will it be Australia or South Korea who progress to a semifinal against Jordan?
3 mins to kickoff: Two brilliant renditions of the anthems, kickoff is now moments away!
7 mins from kickoff: The teams are lining up in the tunnel and are about to enter the cauldron of the stadium...
15 mins to kickoff: South Korea look to have the majority of support in the Al Janoub Stadium tonight, can they use it to their advantage?
30 mins to kickoff: Australia and South Korea haven't met often, but they met in the 2015 Asian Cup Final; in a dramatic clash in front of 75,000 fans in Sydney, the game went to extra-time before a James Troisi goal secured a 2-1 win for Australia and their first ever Asian Cup. The two captains - Maty Ryan and Son Heung-Min - are the only players left that involved that night, who will lead their country to victory?
1hr to kickoff: South Korea have also submitted their lineup, and the big news is that penalty shootout hero from the Round of 16 Hwang Hee-Chan has returned to the starting lineup for the first time at the tournament. He is one of three changes, as Jong Woo-Yeong drops out of the starting lineup for Cho Gue-Sung, and Park Yong-Woo replacing Jung Seung-Hung.
- South Korea confirmed starting lineup: Cho Hyun-Woo (GK) — Kim Tae-Hwan, Kim Young-Gwon, Kim Min-Jae, Seol Young-Woo — Park Yong-Woo, Hwang In-Beom — Lee Kang-In, Son-Heung Min, Hwang Hee-Chan, Cho Gue-Sung
1hr 10 minutes to kickoff: Australia's lineup is in, and Graham Arnold has made four changes to the side that beat Indonesia 4-0. Craig Goodwin is rewarded with his goal and assist of the bench with his first start since matchday one, though it comes at the expense of Jordan Bos. Mitch Duke also returns in place of Bruno Fornaroli, whilst Nathaniel Atkinson and Connor Metcalfe are in the starting side ahead of Gethin Jones and Riley McGree.
- Australia confirmed starting lineup: Ryan (GK) — Atkinson, Rowles, Souttar, Behich — Metcalfe, Baccus, Irvine — Boyle, Duke, Goodwin
1hr 30 minutes to kickoff: Some rare cool conditions in Qatar for this one, how will this affect the gameplay?
1hr 45 minutes to kickoff: The first Asian Cup quarterfinal between Tajikistan and Jordan has just finished, and in a tight game Jordan have emerged 1-0 winners thanks to a Vahdat Hanonov own goal in the 66th minute. It marks the first time Jordan have qualified for the semifinals, and they will take on either Australia or South Korea.
2 hours prior to kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of the opening quarterfinal of the 2023 Asian Cup between Australia and South Korea. In what is a repeat of the 2015 final, both sides will be looking to put below par performances at the tournament so far behind them in what will be their toughest match to date, as Australia still face questions about their attack, and South Korea need to stop their reliance on late goals to get them out of sticky situations. South Korea may have the star power in Heung-Min Son and Kim Min-Jae, but Australia tend to do better against opponents who have more of the ball, where they can use their counter attacking exploits. It should be a highly intriguing match, we cannot wait for the action to begin!
Australia vs South Korea lineups, team news
Australia were boosted by the return of striker Mitch Duke off the bench against Indonesia after he missed their final group game.
Craig Goodwin also made his return to the side off the bench, and had an instant impact with a goal and an assist, though it is unknown whether coach Graham Arnold is willing to play the South Australian and exciting youngster Jordan Bos in the same starting side.
Jurgen Klinsmann’s substitutes did the damage against Saudi Arabia, with Cho Gue-Sung scoring the equaliser, while Hwang Hee-Chan helped change the game off the bench and scored the winning penalty in the shootout.
He has rarely been sighted at the tournament due to injury, but his timely return to the side may just be the boost the Taeguk Warriors need to return to their best and charge towards the final.
Australia vs South Korea live stream, TV channel
The Australia vs South Korea match from the Asian Cup kicks off at 6:30 p.m. local time from the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah
Below are the corresponding times, TV channels, and live streams to watch the match in regions around the world
| Date | Kickoff time | TV | Streaming | |
| USA | February 2nd | 10:30 a.m. ET | — | Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo |
| Canada | February 2nd | 10:30 a.m. ET | — | Paramount+ |
| UK | February 2nd | 3:30 p.m. GMT | — | Triller TV |
| Australia | February 3rd | 2:30 a.m. AEDT | Channel 10 | Paramount+, 10Play |
| India | February 2nd | 9:00 p.m. IST | FanCode | |
| Hong Kong | February 2nd | 11:30 p.m. HKT | HOY TV | HOY TV |
| Malaysia | February 2nd | 11:30 p.m. MYT | Astro Arena Bola 2 | Astro GO |
| Singapore | February 2nd | 11:30 p.m. SGT | — | meWATCH |
| New Zealand | February 3rd | 4:30 a.m. NZDT | — | Sky Sports NOW |