South Korea, Bahrain, Indonesia all advance to Asian Cup Round of 16
South Korea finished second in Asian Cup Group E after Malaysia held them to a 3-3 draw on Thursday with an equalizer in the 15th minute of added time, leaving Bahrain top of the standings after a 1-0 victory over Jordan.
Bahrain finished with six points thanks to Abdulla Yusuf Helal's winner, while South Korea finished with five. Jordan, third with four points, advanced as one of the best third-place teams.
Saudi Arabia, who had already secured a spot in the last 16, won Group F after a goalless draw with Thailand, while Oman were eliminated after a 1-1 draw with Kyrgyzstan.
Oman finished with two points, and Indonesia (three points in Group D) advanced for the first time with a better record as a third-place team alongside Syria, Palestine, and Jordan.
Indonesia will play Australia, while Palestine will face hosts Qatar. Syria will be up against heavyweights Iran.
South Korea will face Saudi Arabia in the round of 16, and coach Juergen Klinsmann stated that the team did not finish second on purpose to avoid a titanic clash with Group D runners-up Japan.
"We didn't want to avoid Japan, it definitely wasn't our plan to concede three goals today. We wanted to go through in first place, that was our goal," Klinsmann told reporters.
"Malaysia played with a lot of heart and you have to give them credit but we should have won this game."
South Korea took the lead in the 21st minute when Jeong Woo-Yeong headed home from a corner. The goal was initially not awarded because Malaysian goalkeeper Syihan Hazmi clawed the ball out of the air before VAR confirmed it had crossed the line.
Malaysia equalised six minutes into the second half when they won the ball high up the pitch and Faisal Halim twisted and turned in the box to score from close range.
Malaysia took the lead 11 minutes later when Seol Young-Woo fouled Arif Aiman in the box, resulting in a penalty awarded after a VAR check, which the forward converted.
The game had late drama, however, as Lee Kang-in restored parity in the 83rd minute with a free kick into the top corner that went in off the woodwork after Hazmi attempted a save, resulting in an own goal.
South Korea won a penalty in injury time with another VAR check after the referee ruled Oh Hyeon-Gyu had been fouled, and Son scored from the spot.
However, with virtually the last kick of the game in the 15th minute of stoppage time, Romel Morales equalised, sparking wild celebrations among Malaysian fans.
"For us it's a fantastic result. Congratulations to all Malaysian fans, I appreciate the support we had. I'm grateful to all the players for what they've done," Malaysia's South Korean coach Kim Pan-gon said.
Bahrain won the game on a counter-attack in the first half, when Helal sprinted from the center circle with only the keeper to beat and scored from outside the box.
Bahrain will play Japan in the next round, while Jordan will face Iraq.
Saudi Arabia had a penalty taken by Abdullah Radif saved in the first half, and despite dominating the game, with Thailand failing to have a shot on goal, they were held, sending both teams through.
Thailand will face Uzbekistan in the next round.
Muhsen Al Ghassani opened the scoring from a corner in a melee inside the six-yard box in the eighth minute, giving Oman hope of reaching the round of 16.
However, their hopes were dashed in the 80th minute when Kyrgyz forward Joel Kojo took advantage of a miscommunication between defender Khalid Al-Braiki and goalkeeper Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini to score into an empty net.
SportsLigue