The Hangzhou Asian Games soccer team, led by coach Hwang Sun-hong, is just one step away from gold and a “three-peat” after defeating Uzbekistan to reach the final. The final set up a “fateful Korea-Japan match” against Japan.

Hwang Sun-hong-ho (Korea) scored a multi-goal performance from Jung Woo-young (Stuttgart) to earn a 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan in the semifinals of the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games at the Huanglong Sports Center Stadium in Hangzhou, China, on Thursday (9 p.m. ET).

With the victory, Hwang Seonhong-ho advanced to the final with a six-game unbeaten record. It was an overwhelming fireworks display, with a whopping 25 goals in the process. In the final on July 7, they will face “eternal rivals” Japan, who swept past Hong Kong in the other quarterfinal, for the title.

Hwang didn’t hesitate to pull out a 4-2-3-1 formation. Cho Young-wook (Gimcheon Sangmu) started up front. Jung Woo-young led the attack with Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) and Uhm Won-sang (Ulsan Hyundai) in the second line. Baek Seung-ho (Jeonbuk Hyundai) and Hong Hyun-seok (KAA Gent) protected the back.

From left to right, Seol Young-woo (Ulsan), Park Jin-seop (Jeonbuk), Lee Han-beom (FC Seoul), and Hwang Jae-won (Daegu FC) formed the defense. Lee Kwang-yeon (Gangwon FC) was in goal. Ko Young-joon (Pohang Steelers), Kim Tae-hyun (Vegalta Sendai), Park Jae-yong, Song Min-gyu (Jeonbuk), Ahn Jae-joon (Bucheon FC), and Jung Ho-yeon (Gwangju FC) started on the bench.

Hwang said, “We need to prepare well tactically, and I think the ‘best enemy’ is within us. We need to be vigilant and confident, but we also need to take a step back and think,” Hwang said, adding, “We will be cautious and make sure to win the quarterfinals and reach the final.”

Hwang Sun-hong made it look easy as he opened the scoring early on. From a free kick in the fourth minute, Hong Hyun-seok sent a deft roving pass to the right flank of the penalty box, where Uhm Won-sang, who had dug in behind the defense, sent a low, quick cross into the box that Jung Woo-young slotted home from behind. 먹튀검증

However, Hwang Seon-Hong Ho slowly relinquished the initiative and conceded the equalizer. In the 25th minute, Yasurbek Yaloridinov (FC Olympic) stepped up to take a free kick from the front of the penalty arc circle, and his direct shot found the head of Baek Seung-ho, who was standing on the defensive wall, and was sucked into the goal.

After regrouping, Hwang slowly gained possession and regained the lead. In the 38th minute, Lee Han-beom continued to press forward inside the penalty box, forcing Saidazamat Mirsaydov (Olympic) to make a mistake, and when the ball was played in front of him, Jung Woo-young was there to pounce.