Saudi Arabia and South Korea will face off for the first time in more than two decades. After a tense 3-3 draw with Malaysia, Korea finished second in Group E. The Green Falcons won Group F with a 0-0 draw against Thailand.
Preview (Saudi Arabia vs. South Korea)
The Saudis continued their winning ways from before the Asian Cup started in the first round of play. They went undefeated in the group stage for the first time since 2007. They have also won their Asian Cup group for the first time since 2007. Their current winning streak has seen them surrender just one goal, which came against them in the first round. The fact that manager Roberto Mancini has a reputation for preferring 1-0 results over triumphs with lots of goals speaks volumes about his preference, thus it is not surprising that they played such an amazing defensive game in the first round.
Mancini can accomplish something on Tuesday that no Saudi manager has been able to do since 2007: win an Asian Cup match during the knockout stage. Saudi Arabia had lost nine of their previous ten games across all competitions while giving up the first goal. Their lone triumph came in their opening match of this tournament against Oman (2-1). Before that, they had shocked future World Cup champions Argentina in their opening game in Qatar 2022.
South Korea has won their first Asian Cup knockout match in each of the last four competitions. Four years ago, they narrowly defeated Bahrain at this level (2-1 in overtime). As the manager of a national team, Klinsmann has only lost once in regular time, in the World Cup or any other continental competition. It was in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals, where the USA squad fell to Jamaica 2-1. Though they have never defeated the Green Falcons in the Asian Cup, the Tigers of Asia have not given up a goal in their four prior matches with them.
Team News
On matchday three, Mancini completely changed the Saudi Arabian starting eleven. Salem Al-Dawsari and Ali Al-Bulaihi were the only two players who did not change from the starting lineup. This was done because Mancini knew they would automatically qualify for the round of sixteen. In their match with Thailand, Al-Bulaihi and Mohamed Kanno were the first to reach fifty caps each. Mohammed Al-Breik is six caps short of reaching the same mark. In goal, Raghed Al-Najjar took Ahmed Al-Kassar’s position. He earned his first cap for the Green Falcons and kept a clean sheet without needing to make a single stop.
From matchday two to matchday three, Klinsmann made three changes to his South Korean starting eleven: Kim Tae-hwan, Kim Young-gwon, and Jeong Woo-yeong were substituted for Jung Seung-hyun, Lee Ki-je, and Park Yong-woo. On matchday three, Hwang Hee-chan, who was sidelined for the first two games due to injury, made his competitive debut by substituting for Cho Gue-sung in the second half. Kim Jin-su, who had already been knocked out, replaced Seol Young-woo. Jeong Woo-Yeong scored his fourth goal with the national team, Lee Kang-in got his third goal of the competition, and Son Heung-min now has a goal in back-to-back games.
Saudi Arabia 1-1 South Korea (Saudi Arabia advances on penalties)
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