Byun Sunghwan’s side have reached the last eight as Group B runners-up, after losing their final group match against Iran at the AFC U-17 Asian Cup.

Korea Republic lost 2-0 to Iran in Pathum Thani, Thailand on Wednesday, to finish second in the group stage and set up a quarter-final meeting with hosts Thailand at the same venue in three days’ time.

The participating teams in the U-17 Asian Cup have been drawn into four groups of four, with two teams from each group advancing to the last eight. Aiming to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup by reaching the last four, Korea Republic had already secured their passage to the knockout phase with two straight wins over Qatar and Afghanistan.

Byun rang quite a few changes to the side: Kim Myeongjun, Yang Minhyeok and Yoon Doyong, all of who had started in the first two games, were rested on the bench, whilst centre forward Lee Jaehwan, wingers Kim Hyunmin and Kim Seongju led the three-pronged attack.

Jin Taeho and Back Inwoo started in midfield, with Cha Jehoon supporting the pair from behind; Seo Jeonghyeok, You Minjun, Kang Minwoo and Lee Suro at the back; Hong Seongmin between the posts. Kang Minwoo wore the captain’s armband in Kim Myeongjun’s absence.

Despite the reshuffle their attack-minded approach to the game remained the same: Korea Republic built their play from the flanks whilst using the space in wide areas. When both fullbacks marauded alongside the touchlines to reinforce the attack, defensive midfielder Cha Jehoon sat back to join the central rearguard. On 17 minutes, right back Lee Suro broke into the centre to unleash an audacious effort from distance.

However, Korea Republic were dealt a blow moments later as they fell behind for the first time in this competition. Kasra Taheri headed the ball into the path of Nima Andarz, who broke into the right side of the area to fire past Hong Seongmin.

It took barely a minute for the men in red to fall further behind, with the Iranian fullbacks breaking freely into space behind the defence. Mahan Sadeghi received Esmaeil Gholizadeh’s cut-back from the left, before rounding off the moves with a clinical finish to make it 2-0.

Byun responded by bringing on his key players after the interval, as Kim Myeongjun, Yang Minhyeok and Yoon Doyong came off the bench to replace Lee Jaehwan, Back Inwoo and Kim Seongju respectively. Park Seungsoo and Lim Hyunsub were deployed midway through the second half, as Korea Republic were desperate to claw their way back into it.

But despite having more than 70 per cent of ball possession and dominating the game, Korea Republic struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities to score against the stubborn Iranian defence. Yoon Doyong exchanged a one-two with Kim Myeongjun before breaking into the area with only the keeper to beat, only to see his effort denied deep into added time.

2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup

Group B

Korea Republic 0-2 Iran

Goals: Nima Andarz 18’, Mahan Sadeghi 19’

KOR: Hong Seongmin, Seo Jeonghyeok, You Minjun, Kang Minwoo, Lee Suro, Cha Jehoon (Lim Hyunsub 67’), Jin Taeho, Back Inwoo (Yang Minhyeok 57’), Kim Hyunmin (Park Seungsoo 67’), Kim Seongju (Yoon Doyong 52’), Lee Jaehwan (Kim Myeongjun 57’)