It survived in the end. It wavered and nearly collapsed. Still, Korea heads to the women's U-20 World Cup stage once again.
The Republic of Korea women's under-20 (U-20) national team, led by coach Park Yoon-jung, defeated host Thailand 2-1 after extra time in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-20 Women's Asian Cup at Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani, Thailand, on the 12th (Korea time). With this victory, Korea advanced to the semifinals and secured qualification for the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) U-20 Women's World Cup finals.
Korea's qualification for the U-20 women's World Cup is the third consecutive appearance following the 2022 Costa Rica and 2024 Colombia tournaments and the eighth overall. They will participate in the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup to be held in Poland in September.
It was not easy. Shaken by a 0-5 thrashing by North Korea in the final group stage match, Korea faced another precarious match in the quarterfinals. The opponent was host Thailand. Despite a 4-0 advantage in previous meetings, the match was much tougher than expected.
Korea started in a 4-3-3. Lee Hae-eun led the front, with Kim Min-seo and Cho Hye-young on the wings. Jin Hye-rin, Park Ji-yoo and Han Min-seo formed the midfield, and the defense was handled by Yoon Ah-young, Nam Seung-eun, Jung Da-bin and Cheon Si-woo. Goalkeeper Kim Chae-bin guarded the net.
The start was good. In the 16th minute of the first half, Han Min-seo's right corner kick came in. Central defender Nam Seung-eun, who had joined the attack, charged into the box. Nam Seung-eun's header shook the net. It was a perfect set piece, with Cho Hye-young screening in front of the goalkeeper. Korea took a 1-0 lead.
Korea dominated the match throughout the first half. Lee Hae-eun had several chances, and Jin Hye-rin also targeted the goal with a long-range shot. In the 38th minute of the first half, Jin Hye-rin opened the left and delivered a perfect pass to Lee Hae-eun. There were almost no defenders or goalkeeper in position. Lee Hae-eun's shot went straight to the goalkeeper. They missed the chance to pull away.
The unease became reality. Thailand's momentum revived in the second half. Korea held on thanks to goalkeeper Kim Chae-bin's saves. In the 2nd minute of the second half she saved a header from Kurisara Limpawanit, and in the 11th minute she also pushed away a decisive shot from Kayden Iliana.
Korea also saw Lee Hae-eun test the goal again in the 20th minute of the second half, but was denied by Thai goalkeeper Chonticha Panyalung. And then they conceded. In the 27th minute of the second half, Madison Kastin, receiving a pass from Kurisara, completely opened up the right side and scored the equalizer with a powerful right-footed shot. Kim Chae-bin could not do anything about it.
Cho Hye-young left the field injured, and the match's rhythm was disrupted. In the late stages of the second half, Thailand continued with shots and set pieces. In the 5th minute of the first half of extra time, Iliana's shot barely cleared the crossbar, and Korea narrowly escaped another crisis.
At that moment, the player who saved Korea was substitute Park Joo-ha.
Park Joo-ha, who came on in place of Cho Hye-young in the 25th minute of the second half, ended the contest at the start of the second half of extra time. Receiving a through pass from Jin Hye-rin, Park Joo-ha cut into the right space. When the goalkeeper rushed out, she calmly slotted a right-footed shot into the empty net. In the 1st minute of the second half of extra time, Korea took the lead again.
The remaining time became a period of holding on. Thailand launched an all-out offensive. In the 13th minute of the second half of extra time, Kurisara's long-range shot came in, but Kim Chae-bin made another save. Korea ultimately held on to a 2-1 victory.
The semifinal opponent is North Korea. Korea lost 0-5 to North Korea in the final group stage match on the 9th. Shots were 0-32. They meet again in just a week. This time they must show they are different.
If they get past North Korea, the final awaits. They will contest the title against the winner of the China-Japan match. Korea won this tournament in 2004 and 2013. They aim for a return to the final for the first time in 13 years since 2013 and a third championship.
Above all, the most important goal has already been achieved. The Korea women's U-20 national team is going back to the World Cup.
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