DOHA: Son Heung-min scored a stunning free-kick in extra time as South Korea fought back to beat Australia 2-1 on Friday and set up an Asian Cup semifinal against Jordan.
It was another great escape for the Koreans, who needed a 96th-minute penalty from Hwang Hee-chan to stay alive after Australia took the lead late in the first half through Craig Goodwin.
It was the fourth time in five games that Jurgen Klinsmann’s South Korea had scored in second-half injury time in Qatar.
Tottenham’s Son, Asia’s best player and South Korea’s skipper, had yet to fully make his mark at the tournament but he delivered when it counted.
First he won a penalty when Lewis Miller brought him down in injury time at the end of normal time, then he stepped up to curl home a sublime free-kick from the edge of the box in the 104th minute.
Klinsmann, who has been under fire for South Korea’s performances in Qatar, led his team in a wild celebration at the end.
Australia finished the match with 10 men after Aiden O’Neill was red-carded for lunging at Hwang at the end of the first period of extra time.
The Koreans are looking to win the Asian Cup for the first time since 1964.
They will have to do without Kim Min-jae in the semifinal, after the Bayern Munich defender picked up his second booking of the tournament.
Jordan will be their opponents after they beat Tajikistan 1-0 earlier in the day.
Australia came into the match with two days’ extra rest, with South Korea also battling the effects of a gruelling penalty-shootout win over Saudi Arabia in the last 16.
Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang started for the first time in the tournament after returning from a hip injury.
South Korea dominated the first half but it was Australia who opened the scoring in the 42nd minute.
Hwang In-beom gave the ball away in the Korean defense and Connor Metcalfe floated the ball to the back post for Goodwin to volley home.
The Socceroos should have doubled their lead 10 minutes after the restart when Mitchell Duke blazed over, after goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo had denied Martin Boyle with a double save.
Duke spurned another opportunity when he headed wide in the 84th minute, and the Koreans made them pay with the equalizer from the spot deep into injury time.
Son then completed the turnaround, curling the ball inside Maty Ryan’s post for the winner.
Son hits winner as South Korea beat Australia to reach Asian Cup semis
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Son hits winner as South Korea beat Australia to reach Asian Cup semis
- It was the fourth time in five games that Jurgen Klinsmann’s South Korea had scored in second-half injury time in Qatar
- Tottenham’s Son, Asia’s best player and South Korea’s skipper, had yet to fully make his mark at the tournament but he delivered when it counted
Barca suffer title defense blow in Girona derby defeat
- Girona ended the game with 10 men when Roca scythed down Yamal to cut short a desperate Barca attack deep in stoppage time
GIRONA, Spain: Spanish champions Barcelona fell to a damaging 2-1 defeat at Girona on Monday to leave them trailing Real Madrid by two points at the top of La Liga.
Los Blancos beat Real Sociedad on Saturday to overtake the Catalans and Hansi Flick’s side could not defeat Girona in an gripping derby clash to reclaim the lead.
Teenage star Lamine Yamal missed a penalty for Barcelona, who took the lead through defender Pau Cubarsi just before the hour mark.
However goals from Thomas Lemar and Fran Beltran helped Girona, 12th, mount an impressive comeback.
“We have to improve because they can’t score these two goals against us,” Cubarsi told DAZN.
“We have to be self-critical, we didn’t play a great game, we have to improve, but now we have to rest and charge our batteries.”
Both sides were attacking with abandon in the first half and it was remarkable they went in goalless at the break.
Raphinha whipped a shot narrowly wide and Yamal fired straight at Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga when through on goal.
At the other end Ukrainian striker Vladyslav Vanat missed a slew of presentable opportunities.
Ferran Torres fired a good chance wide for Barca and Raphinha drove against the upright as Flick’s side pushed for the opener.
They should have got it when Dani Olmo was clumsily felled in the box by Daley Blind, but Yamal hit the post from the spot.
Barcelona eventually took the lead through Pau Cubarsi’s header from Jules Kounde’s cross after 59 minutes, but Girona swiftly pulled level.
Thomas Lemar slipped away from Eric Garcia and turned home Vanat’s pass from close range.
It shifted the momentum in Girona’s favor and Barca were left relying on some stunning saves from goalkeeper Joan Garcia to keep them afloat.
The stopper denied Ivan Martin and Vanat with a remarkable double save, and then thwarted Joel Roca with his leg.
Barca could not stem the tide and Girona forced their way in front after 87 minutes, with Fran Beltran stroking home from the edge of the area.
The visitors, who last week made an official complaint to the Spanish football federation over perceived refereeing inconsistencies, were left fuming after Kounde was fouled by Claudio Echeverri in the build-up and it went unpunished.
Girona ended the game with 10 men when Roca scythed down Yamal to cut short a desperate Barca attack deep in stoppage time.
It did the job and the hosts celebrated wildly at the end with their jubilant fans at Montilivi, as Flick demanded explanations from the referee.
“It seemed like a foul (on Kounde) to me, but we shouldn’t focus on decisions we can’t control,” said Barca defender Gerard Martin.
