South Korea suffer a shock defeat to Malaysia

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The happiness coming from defeating Bahrain 6-0 lasted no more than two days for South Korea U23 men’s football team due to being beaten by Malaysia 1-2 in the second match of Group E for 2018 Asian Games on Friday evening.

South Korea sent three overaged players – Son Heung-min, Hwang Ui-jo and Jo Hyeon-woo – to participate. However, all of those three were not in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games to help the host country win the champion title.

The Southeast Asian side’s brace came from Safawi Rasid #5, who’s currently playing for Malaysia Super League’s top club Johor Darul Ta’zim FC, in the 5th and the injury time of the first half.

Malaysia's Muhammad Irfan Zakaria #17 tackles South Korea's Hwang Ui-jo #16, Malaysia 2-1 South Korea, Group E, Asian Games, SI Jalak Harupat Stadium, Indonesia, August 17. /VCG Photo

The Northeast Asian team finally found the target in the 87th minute by Hwang Ui-jo #16 after attempting more than ten times to shoot for the whole game, while the Malaysians just tried five times.

Premier League season 2017-2018 top-10 scorer, Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min joined the game from the bench from the start of the second half, but he didn’t help the team to at least equalize the game, as he lost a free-kick chance just outside the box in the last minute.

According to Channel NewsAsia, Spurs gave Son special permission to play at the Asian Games. South Korean players can also expect to be exempted from 21-month compulsory military service if they win the gold medal in football.

Malaysia celebrate after scoring against South Korea, Malaysia 2-1 South Korea, Group E, Asian Games, SI Jalak Harupat Stadium, Indonesia, August 17. /VCG Photo

The defending champions’ squad contains four players who were in the FIFA World Cup this summer. They are Hwang Hee-chan of FC Red Bull Salzburg, Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur FC, Lee Seung-woo of Hellas Verona FC and Jo Hyeon-woo of Daegu FC.

South Korea will face Kyrgyzstan, the current bottom team of Group E on August 20 in SI Jalak Harupat Stadium, and the already qualified team, Malaysia will meet Bahrain at the same time in Wibawa Mukti Stadium.

And for the DPRK men’s football team, they were beaten by Iran 3-0 on Friday, ranking the last place with Myanmar in the Group F. And the North Korea team will confront the powerful Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who’s currently first place with Iran in the group, on August 20 afternoon.