Son Heung-min’s Late Magic Sends South Korea to Semis Against Jordan

In a thrilling Asian Cup quarter-final on Friday, Son Heung-min emerged as South Korea’s hero, scoring a stunning free-kick in extra time to secure a 2-1 victory over Australia, setting up a semi-final clash with Jordan.

Jordan made history by reaching the semi-finals for the first time, following a tense 1-0 win that ended Tajikistan’s remarkable run in the tournament in Qatar.

Tottenham captain and South Korea’s key player, Son had a standout performance, crucially winning a penalty in the dying moments of the second half, which Hwang Hee-chan converted to equalize.

This victory marks a significant step for Jurgen Klinsmann’s South Korean team, aiming to win their first Asian Cup since 1960. Son, after his match-winning display, emphasized the team’s determination to clinch the trophy, dismissing any notion of fatigue.

Australia initially took the lead in the 42nd minute, thanks to Craig Goodwin’s volley, following a defensive error by South Korea’s Hwang In-beom. However, South Korea’s fortunes turned when Son was brought down in the penalty area by Lewis Miller, leading to Hwang’s equalizer in the 96th minute.

Son’s brilliance shone through in the 104th minute with a beautifully curled free-kick, propelling South Korea into the lead. Australia’s challenges compounded when Aiden O’Neill received a red card towards the end of the first extra-time period.

The win sparked jubilant celebrations from Klinsmann and his team, with Klinsmann affirming their commitment to the tournament.

Australian coach Graham Arnold expressed disappointment, acknowledging missed opportunities to secure a win and praising his team’s overall performance in the tournament.

In the day’s other quarter-final, Jordan’s advancement was marked by an own goal from Tajikistan, a blow to the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, led by Croatian coach Petar Segrt. The historic win for Jordan, coached by Moroccan Hussein Ammouta, was a culmination of ambition and effort, as noted by defender and man of the match Yazan Al-Arab.

The match was decided by a deflected header from Jordan’s Abdallah Nasib, which turned into an own goal by Tajikistan’s Vahdat Hanonov. Despite further chances, Jordan maintained their lead.

Segrt recognized Tajikistan’s limits but praised the team’s honorable performance.

The Asian Cup continues with the remaining quarter-finals, where defending champions Qatar face Uzbekistan, and pre-tournament favorites Japan take on Iran.