*This content was translated by AI.
Lee Min-sung (53), head coach of the South Korean U-23 national team, expressed his feelings about losing the match between Korea and Japan.
The U-23 national soccer team, led by head coach Lee Min-sung, lost 0-1 in the semifinals of the "2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Asian Cup" against Japan at 8:30 p.m. on the 20th (Korea time) at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
South Korea, which failed to advance to the final, will play the third and fourth place match against the loser of the Vietnam-China showdown at 0 a.m. on the 24th at the Prince Abdullah Al Faizal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
On the other hand, Japan, which reached the final, is trying to win its second consecutive title for the first time in the tournament. He is also aiming for the most wins (3 times) in the tournament following 2016 and 2024.
South Korea, which was embarrassed by Japan's offensive from the beginning of the game, gave Koizumi Kaito the first goal in the 36th minute of the first half. He was aggressive in the second half, but it didn't come to fruition in the end.
At a press conference after the game, head coach Lee Min-sung said, "I think I played too weak in the first half. "I fought well in the second half, but I was sorry that I couldn't score," he said. "I hope this tournament will serve as an opportunity for the players to grow further."
South Korea had only one shot in the first half. On the other hand, Japan attempted 10 shower shots. In the second half, South Korea actively attacked Kang Sung-jin and Kim Tae-won and hit seven shots, but failed to score an equalizer in the end.
Manager Lee Min-sung said, "The opposing goalkeeper did a good jobRather, I think we didn't kick well, he said. "I want to try to pressure more in the first half and have an active attitude."
He added, "I changed it in that way in the second half and responded appropriately, but since soccer is a game where you have to score to win, I think we need to make up for the failure to score."
"In the first half, I think we played in a defensive position a little bit. "I think the main thing in the second half was to change that part and actively try to pressure the front," he explained.
South Korea was left disappointed as it failed to show clear strengths in both offense and defense, losing to Uzbekistan, two years younger, from the group stage.
Head coach Lee Min-sung said, "There are parts that need to be fixed to score and lose points. "We should focus on balancing, not offensively and defensively, to score in the next game," he said.
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*This content was translated by AI.
