Morocco beat South Korea 2-1 on Thursday in the U-20 World Cup, reaffirmed their status as favorites after advancing from the ‘group of death’ and will face the United States in the quarterfinals on Sunday.
The Moroccan team took the lead thanks to an own goal by Minha Shin in the 8th minute and scored the second in the 58th minute with a great header by Yassir Zabiri. Taewon Kim scored for South Korea in the 93rd minute.
Imposing its dominance from the start
In the first half, Morocco looked better positioned and with clearer ideas than the Koreans.
It was difficult for them to create a good game and to reach the Africans’ area cleanly and dangerously.
The ‘Lions of Atlas’ saw the match go their way right from the start, taking the lead when both teams were still testing each other in the opening minutes.
After Gessime Yassine’s powerful shot ricocheted off a defender, Zabiri collected the rebound with a great bicycle kick that would have gone wide had it not hit the body of Minha Shin, who ended up with the ball in his own net.
Zabiri seals quarterfinal berth
In the 58th minute, Morocco all but put the game to bed after a measured cross from Gessime Yassine to Yassir Zabiri.
He headed the ball past Seongmin Hong to make it 2-0.
South Korea pulled one back thanks to a penalty goal by Taewon Kim in the 93rd minute.
But at no time did they bother Morocco, who were very comfortable with and without the ball.
Morocco qualified for the quarterfinals of the U-20 World Cup and will face the United States next Sunday at 17.00 local time (20.00 GMT) at the El Teniente stadium in Rancagua.
Technical data
Morocco: Yanis Benchaouch; Ali Maamar, Ismael Baouf, Fouad Zahouani, Smail Bakhty, Naim Byar, Saad El Haddad (m.62, Ilias Boumassaoudi), Yassine Khalifi, Othmane Maamma (m.77, Anas Tajaouart), Gessime Yassine (m.89, Mohamed Hamony), Yassir Zabiri (m.77, Younes Elbahraoui).
1. South Korea: Seongmin Hong; Hyunseo Bae, Sunwoo Ham, Seunggu Choi, Minha Shin, Seungmin Son (m.92, Hojin Kim), Maho Chung (m.81, Shin Sung), Byeongwook Choi (m.61, Geonhee Lee), Taewon Kim, Myeongjun Kim (m.81, Hyeonoh Kim), Hyunmin Kim (m.61, Gaon Baek).
Goals: 1-0, 8th minute: Minha Shin, own goal. 2-0, 58th minute: Yassir Zabiri. 2-1, 93rd minute: Taewon Kim, penalty kick.
Referee: Argentine referee Darío Herrera cautioned Hyunseo Bae, Hyeonoh and Benchaouch.
Incidents: Match of the round of 16 of the U-20 World Cup Chile 2025 played at the El Teniente stadium in Rancagua.
With information from EFE
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