'Two consecutive wins, Group A top spot' Coach Lee Min-seong: "Congratulations to the players; we will do our best to continue playing well" [Nagoya on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Min-seong, the head coach of the South Korean U23 Asian Games football team that led the squad to the quarterfinals of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya (Japan) Asian Games men's football tournament, said, "I want to tell the players that I congratulate them."

In a press conference following the 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in the second Group D match of the tournament at Mizho Park Rugby Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, on the 22nd, Coach Lee Min-seong stated, "I thought it would be a difficult match," but added, "Fortunately, we scored and won. We will do our best to continue playing good games."

Earlier, South Korea had already secured its place in the quarterfinals with a decisive 4-1 win over Qatar. On this day, they faced Saudi Arabia in a crucial match to determine Group A top spot. Although there were shortcomings in the first-half performance, with the first shot not coming until the 22nd minute, consecutive goals by Shin Min-ha and Kim Myeong-jun in the second half sealed the victory. The team finished the group stage with two wins from two matches and advanced as Group A leaders. Their quarterfinal opponent will be Vietnam.

Coach Lee Min-seong reflected on the match, saying, "The players lacked movement in the early stages. Fortunately, as the game progressed, we penetrated into the half-spaces we had targeted, creating good chances."

He continued, "Physical condition is the biggest variable in the Asian Games. Since the quarterfinals are a tournament format, we must choose a method that ensures stability. While fans may desire excellent performances and results, it seems we now need to play with the clear objective of securing results."

Striker Lee Young-jun (Grasshopper), who joined the team just the day before due to his club's schedule and played in today's first match, is one of the attacking resources. Meanwhile, another attacker, Kim Myeong-jun (KRC Genk), continues his steep upward trajectory with consecutive goals in two matches.

Coach Lee Min-seong said, "Lee Young-jun had not yet reached peak condition due to a long flight. Nevertheless, he served as a solid wall and fulfilled the traditional role of a number 9 striker. We expect him to adjust his condition well over the remaining period and effectively support Kim Myeong-jun, who is quite fatigued."

He added, "Kim Myeong-jun can also play in the number 10 position. We considered deploying him alongside Lee Young-jun as a striking duo, with one player operating from a deeper position. Given the fierce competition for the number 10 spot, we plan to monitor their conditions before making selections. Lee Young-jun will continue to perform well as a powerful striker. With many talented wingers available, he is expected to play an effective linking role."

Coach Lee Min-seong stated, "We have not yet analyzed Vietnam (our quarterfinal opponent). We gave everything in the Saudi Arabia match. Once we return to the hotel, we will analyze Vietnam and prepare thoroughly to ensure victory." The men's football quarterfinal match between South Korea and Vietnam at the Asian Games will be held at the same venue on the 25th at 7:30 p.m.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.