Korea Republic defeated Uzbekistan in the last four to reach the final of the Asian Games, where they will be aiming for their third successive gold medal against archrivals Japan.

Hwang Sunhong’s charges edged Uzbekistan 2-1 at Huanglong Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou, China on Wednesday, with Jeong Wooyeong netting a brace to take his tournament tally to seven goals in the process.

The Taegeuk Warriors will take on Japan in the final at the same venue on Saturday evening. The Samurai Blue had breezed past Hong Kong 4-0 in the other semi-final earlier in the afternoon.

Hwang deployed his full-strength squad, with four out of five players who had come off the bench against China – Lee Kangin, Jeong Wooyeong, Um Wonsang and Seol Youngwoo – starting against the Uzbeks.

Cho Youngwook started up front as a lone striker supported by Lee Kangin; Jeong Wooyeong, Hong Hyunseok, Paik Seungho and Um Wonsang in midfield; Seol Youngwoo, Park Jinseob, Lee Hanbeom and Hwang Jaewon at the back; with Lee Gwangyeon between the sticks.

Jeong made his presence felt with a brace in the first half. A flawless set of moves culminated in his first goal on four minutes: Lee Kangin laid the free-kick over to Hong Hyunseok, who lobbed the ball into the path of an onrushing Um Wonsang on the right. Um then sent a low cross into the goalmouth, where Jeong was left unmarked to fire home from close range.

The lead did not long, however, as Jasurbek Jaloliddinov curled a free-kick that was deflected by Paik Seungho’s head and into the back of the net on 25 minutes. Lee Gwangyeon was desperate to parry the ball away but it was not enough to deny the deflected effort.

Korea Republic regrouped and fought back on 38 minutes, when Jeong rose to occasion to put his side ahead. Paik Seungho headed a long ball into the path of Lee Hanbeom, and as two Uzbek defenders failed to clear the ball away from danger, Jeong sneaked into the goalmouth to fire home with his right foot.

In an attempt to protect the slim lead, Hwang made a double substitution on the hour mark as Song Minkyu and Jung Hoyeon came off the bench to replace Jeong Wooyeong and Lee Kangin respectively. Defensive midfielder Jung was deployed alongside Paik Seungho, with Hong Hyunseok moving upfield to fill the gap left by Lee Kangin. On 66 minutes, Um Wonsang was stretchered off to be replaced by An Jaejun.

As the battle intensified in midfield, there was a crucial moment with a quarter of an hour remaining. Abdurauf Buriev received his marching orders for a second bookable offence, following a tough tackle on Cho Youngwook. Hong Hyunseok stepped up to convert the resulting free-kick, only to drag his effort against the wall of defenders.

The Uzbeks launched a series of attacks despite the numerical disadvantage in the closing minutes, whilst the men in red fought back through quick counters with efforts from An Jaejun and Song Minkyu hitting the side netting. Korea Republic held firm to keep the Uzbeks at bay and claimed the victory to reach the final.

Asian Games Hangzhou 2022

Semi-finals

Korea Republic 2-1 Uzbekistan

Goals: Jeong Wooyeong 4’, 38’; Jasurbek Jaloliddinov 25’

KOR: Lee Gwangyeon, Seol Youngwoo, Park Jinseob, Lee Hanbeom, Hwang Jaewon, Jeong Wooyeong (Jung Hoyeon 59’), Hong Hyunseok (Bak Jaeyong 86’), Paik Seungho, Um Wonsang (An Jaejun 66’), Cho Youngwook (Goh Youngjun 86’), Lee Kangin (Song Minkyu 59’)