Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Coquimbo: Korea Republic advance to the Round of 16 of the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup as Group B winners after Friday’s goalless draw with England saw them finish a point clear of Brazil at the top of the standings.
The 2014 AFC U-16 Championship runners-up kept a clean sheet for the third successive match in Chile to top the Group B table with seven points, one more than three-time champions Brazil, who the Koreans defeated 1-0 in their tournament curtain raiser before recording an identical win over Guinea in their penultimate fixture.
Neither side was able to create much in the way of clear cut chances during Friday’s Group B finale although England came close to ending the young Taeguk Warriors’ run of not conceding a goal towards the end of a tight encounter at the Estadio Francisco Sanchez Rumoroso when South Korea keeper Lee Joon-seo denied Kaylen Hinds and then substitute Kazaiah Sterling.
"Today, I gave a chance to a lot of players who had not played or were substitutes," said Korea Republic coach Choi Jin-cheul, who made five changes to the side that started Tuesday’s win over Guinea.
“I am satisfied with their performance, but I was hoping to see more from them. Our team wanted to win this game. We do not try to draw. But in the end I am satisfied as finishing ahead of Brazil and England is a great achievement for us.”
Korea Republic’s reward for topping Group B is a Round of 16 match with a yet to be confirmed third-placed side from either Group A, C or D, with the winner of Wednesday’s meeting at the Estadio La Portada in La Serena advancing to the quarter-finals.
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