Korea Republic upset Ecuador to set up a FIFA U-20 World Cup™ quarter-final against Nigeria.
It was the Taegeuk Warriors who struck first. Bae Junho played a delightful ball over the back of the Ecuador defence. Lee Youngjun, who had timed his run to perfection, controlled it immaculately on his chest and buried a volley into the bottom corner.
Bae then employed two exceptional touches to befuddle Daniel de la Cruz, before firing home to double the advantage.
A penalty got Ecuador back into the game. Park Changwoo was adjudged to have pulled back Kendry Paez, and Justin Cuero dispatched his fourth goal of Argentina 2023, but Korea Republic restored their two-goal cushion at the start of the second half.
Choi Seokhyun forcibly headed home Lee Seungwon’s corner, and despite a late Sebastian Gonzalez effort from close range, three-two is how it finished. Korea Republic will now face Nigeria in Santiago del Estero on Sunday for a place in the semi-finals.
Nigeria delivered a shock to the host nation and tournament favorites, Argentina, with a sensational 2-0 victory on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Goals from Ibrahim Muhammad and Rilwanu Haliru Sarki in the Round of 16 encounter propelled the Flying Eagles into the last eight in a match filled with excitement and suspense.
The game commenced with Nigeria showing early promise, displaying their attacking intent. However, as the first half progressed, La Albiceleste gradually gained control of the proceedings.
Veliz had a couple of half-chances to break the deadlock, with one header narrowly sailing over the crossbar and another flicked effort safely gathered by Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Kingsley Aniagboso.
It was in the second half that the Nigerian breakthrough arrived. Emmanuel Umeh delivered a perfectly weighted pass over the top, finding Ibrahim Muhammad, who expertly directed the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper Federico Gomes Gerth.
The goal ignited jubilation among the Nigerian contingent, while Argentina intensified their pursuit of an equalizer.
Luka Romero came agonizingly close to leveling the scoreline when his powerful low strike rattled the inside of the post, leaving Nigeria momentarily relieved.
The tension in the stadium reached fever pitch as Argentina pressed forward relentlessly, desperate to keep their tournament dreams alive.
In a dramatic turn of events, Rilwanu Haliru Sarki emerged as the hero for Nigeria in the dying minutes of the match. With time running out, Sarki leapt high to connect with a cross, guiding a perfectly timed header into the back of the net.
The celebration that followed was a testament to the magnitude of Nigeria’s achievement.
