Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Goa: Korea Republic have been eliminated from the AFC U-16 Championship India 2016 after a 3-0 victory over Malaysia on Thursday proved too little too late to secure a top-two finish in Group C.
Needing a high-scoring win to have any realistic hope of quarter-final qualification, the 2014 runners-up stormed into a two-goal lead inside 15 minutes at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as Park Jeong-in and a penalty from Cheon Seong-hoon put them in a commanding half-time position.
The East Asians then struggled to create goal-scoring chances after the interval before captain Ko Jun-hee nodded home with six minutes remaining as Korea Republic looked set to clinch the runner-up spot.
But Oman netted a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Iraq in Thursday’s other Group C clash to top the standings and ensure it was the West Asian sides who progressed to the quarter-finals after finishing a point ahead of the Koreans.
Seo Hyo-won made four changes to the starting line-up that played out a disappointing scoreless draw with Oman and left the Koreans’ fate dependent on the Iraq and Oman result, both of whom started the evening three points ahead of the East Asians.
The Taeguk Warriors came out with a point to prove and Park Jeong-in put them in front within five minutes after racing on to a long ball over the top from Son Jae-hyeok, heading into his path and coolly slotting under goalkeeper Firdaus Imran.
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