Men’s U-20 national team have rounded off their FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign with the play-off for third place.

Kim Eunjung’s charges lost 3-1 at the hands of Israel in the third place play-off in La Plata, Argentina on Sunday. Lee Seungwon cancelled out Ran Binyamin opener in the first half, before the Israelis scored twice in the closing minutes to seal the win.

Having breezed past the group stage with a win and two draws, the Taegeuk Warriors beat Ecuador 3-2 in the round of 16 and then Nigeria 1-0 in the quarter-finals to reach the last four. Korea suffered a narrow, 2-1 defeat against Italy in the semi-finals, before losing to Israel – the surprise packages of these finals – to round off their campaign.

Kim made four changes to the side that had lost to Italy, with Lee Jihan, Lee Chanouk, Bae Seojoon and Park Changwoo on the starting XI alongside striker Lee Youngjun who made his seventh start of the competition.

Korea Republic made a positive start to the game, only to suffer an unexpected blow against the run of play on 19 minutes. Binyamin latched on to a cross from the left with an acrobatic volley from the right side of the area to put his side ahead.

But it took only five minute for Korea to draw level, as Bae Junho was fouled inside the area as the No10 was about to connect with a Lee Seungwon cross from the right. The captain calmly converted the resulting penalty, to score his third goal of the tournament and surpass Lee Kangin’s feat (two goals and four assists at Poland 2019) with three goals and four assists.

With the scored tied at 1-1, coach Kim made a bold move on the hour mark, replacing centre-forward Lee Youngjun with winger Kim Yonghak. As Bae Junho operating as a false nine with Kang Seongjin moving to the left flank, Korea Republic reinforced their firepower with the three pronged attack.

However, it was the Israelis that looked more likely to score midway through the second half. Hamza Shibli’s effort was parried away but only into the path of Omer Senior, who latched on to the rebound to fire home from close range. But it was ruled offside much to the relief of the Taegeuk Warriors.

But the Israelis ultimately took control and the lead through Senior and Anan 

Khalaili on 76 and 85 minutes respectively, as Korea Republic succumbed to the fatigue in the closing minutes.

2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup

Play-off for third place

Israel 3-1 Korea Republic

Goals: Ran Binyamin 19’, Omer Senior 76’, Anan Khalaili 85’; Lee Seungwon 24’ (pen)

KOR: Kim Joonhong, Bae Seojoon (Choi Yehoon 80’), Kim Jisoo, Choi Seokhyun, Park Changwoo, Lee Chanouk (Hwang Intaek 60’), Bae Junho, Kang Sangyoon, Lee Seungwon, Lee Jihan (Kang Seongjin 39’), Lee Youngjun (Kim Yonghak 60’)