Knockouts-bound S. Korea play Gambia to goalless draw at FIFA U-20 World Cup

With their knockout berth already secured, South Korea have closed out their group stage at the FIFA U-20 World Cup with a goalless draw against Gambia. South Korea finished in second place in Group F with five points, two back of Gambia, after the scoreless affair at the U-20 World Cup at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, western Argentina, on Sunday. As the Group F runners-up, South Korea will face Group B runners-up Ecuador in the round of 16. That match kicks off at 6 p.m. Thursday at

May 29, 2023

Korea clinch knockout berth at U-20 World Cup

South Korea have clinched a spot in the knockout stage at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina even before playing their final group stage match. Japan's 2-1 loss to Israel in Group C in Mendoza, western Argentina, on Saturday (local time) ensured that South Korea will grab a ticket to the round of 16 from Group F regardless of their result against Gambia on Sunday. There are six groups of four nations in this tournament. The top two teams from each group, plus four best third-place teams

May 28, 2023

S. Korea play 10-man Honduras to draw at U-20 World Cup, knockout fate up in air

South Korea battled for a 2-2 draw against Honduras at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, as their knockout fate remains up in the air with one group match to go. South Korea netted two unanswered goals in the second half for the hard-fought draw in Group F at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, western Argentina, on Thursday. South Korea, who opened the tournament with a 2-1 win over France on Monday, sit in second place in the group with four points, two behind Gambia, who clinched a kn

May 26, 2023

S. Korea defeat France to open FIFA U-20 World Cup

South Korea upset France 2-1 to kick off their FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, a winning start to the tournament that few had envisioned. Captain Lee Seung-won had a goal and an assist in the narrow victory in Group F action at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, western Argentina, on Monday. South Korea are eyeing their third consecutive trip to the knockout stage, after reaching the round of 16 in 2017 and finishing runners-up to Ukraine in 2019. The 2021 tournament was canceled due to t

May 23, 2023

Ulsan stretch win streak to 6, lead K League by 13 points

By squeezing past last-place Suwon Samsung Bluewings on Sunday, Ulsan Hyundai FC extended their win streak to six matches, and their lead at the top of the K League 1 tables to 13 points. Martin Adam's 85th-minute goal ended up being the difference in Ulsan's 3-2 win at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, 30 kilometers south of Seoul. Ulsan had recorded only two draws and three losses in their five previous visits to Suwon World Cup Stadium. Ulsan, going for their second straight K Leagu

May 22, 2023

Napoli-Mallorca exhibition in S. Korea up in air due to scheduling conflict

A summer exhibition series between two European football clubs featuring South Korean stars in their native country remained up in the air Friday, due to a scheduling conflict with the domestic league. Local promoters Untouchable Sports Group (USG) and Stadium X are planning a two-match series between the Italian champions Napoli, led by South Korean defender Kim Min-jae, and the Spanish side RCD Mallorca, featuring popular South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in. They announced earlier this month t

May 19, 2023

Detained soccer player 'denies charges, worried about family': agent

Soccer player Son Jun-ho, who has been detained by Chinese authorities on suspicion of bribery, denies the accusations against him, media here reported Friday, quoting the South Korean midfielder’s agent. Son, 31-year-old midfielder playing for Chinese Super League’s Shandong Taishan, was taken into custody by public security authorities in China’s northeast Liaoning province last Friday on suspicion of accepting bribes. The details of the charges have not been unveiled as of n

May 19, 2023

K League opposed to holding Napoli-Mallorca exhibition on matchday

The South Korean professional football league said Wednesday it is opposed to holding a summer exhibition between the Italian champions Napoli and Spanish side RCD Mallorca on the same June matchday for its own clubs. Organizers for the two-match series between Napoli, featuring South Korean defender Kim Min-jae, and Mallorca, with South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in in the fold, had said Tuesday that they were looking to play the first game on June 8 in Seoul and the second one on June 10 in Go

May 10, 2023

Napoli, Kim Min-jae clinch Italian football title

Featuring South Korean defender Kim Min-jae, Napoli have captured their first Italian football title in 33 years. Napoli secured the one point they needed for the Serie A crown with a 1-1 draw against Udinese at Dacia Arena in Udine, Italy, on Thursday. By improving to 80 points on 25 wins, five draws and three losses, Napoli extended their lead over second-place Lazio to 16 points and clinched the top spot in the Italian competition with five matches to spare. Kim, a rock of a center back, play

May 5, 2023

[Graphic News] Son Heung-min achieves double-digit goals for 7 seasons

  Tottenham Hotspur’s South Korean star, Son Heung-min, reached double-digit goal figures for his seventh consecutive season in the Premier League when he scored his 10th goal of the 2022-2023 season in the 77th minute of Tottenham’s 4-3 loss to Liverpool on April 30. Since the 2016-2017 season, Son has kept his performance consistent, including his Golden Boot-winning 2021-2022 season with a career best of 23 goals. Son is the only Asian to have won the Golden Boot in Premier

May 4, 2023

Football chief names new executives in hopes of improving communication

Beleaguered South Korean football chief Chung Mong-gyu introduced new executives for the sport's national federation Wednesday, with an aim to improve communication. Chung, head of the Korea Football Association, made the personnel changes in the aftermath of the organization's ill-advised attempt to reinstate former players, coaches and referees suspended for misconduct, including match fixing. At a press conference at the KFA House in Seoul, Chung attributed problems from the controv

May 3, 2023

Mallorca's Lee Kang-in stays hot with 6th goal of season

South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in has scored his sixth goal of the top Spanish league season for RCD Mallorca, reaching a milestone in the process. Lee netted Mallorca's only goal in their 1-1 draw against Athletic Club in the latest La Liga action at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on Monday. Lee one-timed home a pass from Vedat Muriqi inside the box in the 58th minute, left all alone while Muriqi drew multiple defenders near the goal. This was Lee's third goal

May 2, 2023

Son Heung-min extends double-digit scoring streak to 7 seasons in loss

Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur has reached double figures in Premier League goals for his seventh consecutive season, though the milestone goal came in a losing cause. Son scored his 10th goal of the 2022-2023 season in the 77th minute of Tottenham's 4-3 loss to Liverpool at Anfield in Liverpool, England, on Sunday. The defeat dragged Tottenham down from fifth to sixth place in the league tables with four matches to play, dampening the club's hopes of finishing in the top four and

May 1, 2023

Son Heung-min nets 9th goal of Premier League season, 1 away from extending streak

Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur is now a goal away from scoring in double figures for the seventh consecutive Premier League season. Son netted the second-half equalizer in Spurs' 2-2 draw against Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Thursday, salvaging a key point in a race for a spot in the UEFA Champions League next season. It was Son's ninth goal in the league and 13th in all competitions this season. Son made his Premier League debut with Spurs in 2015, a

April 28, 2023

K League to hold inaugural Hall of Fame induction ceremony on May 2

The South Korea professional football league said Tuesday it will hold its first Hall of Fame induction ceremony in the first week of May. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Korea Professional Football League created the Hall of Fame earlier this year, and selected its first class of inductees in March. They will be enshrined in a ceremony at the Ambassador Seoul-A Pullman hotel beginning at 11 a.m. on May 2. Biennially starting this year, the K League Hall of Fame will select inductees in th

April 25, 2023

Derby win pushes FC Seoul to 2nd place in K League; Ulsan grab point thanks to late goal

By winning a key derby match against a reeling rival, FC Seoul jumped to second place in the K League 1 over the weekend, putting some early pressure on defending champions Ulsan Hyundai FC. Ulsan, for their part, barely avoided losing consecutive matches for the first time this season, needing a last-gasp goal to take a 2-2 draw against Pohang Steelers in their own regional derby on the weekend. In the 100th "Super Match" derby, FC Seoul cruised past downtrodden Suwon Samsung Bluewing

April 24, 2023

S. Korea to host Peru, El Salvador in men's football friendlies in June

South Korea will face Peru and El Salvador in men's football friendly matches at home in June, the sport's national governing body announced Friday. The Korea Football Association said South Korea, world No. 27, will first take on 21st-ranked Peru on June 16. Then they will host world No. 75 El Salvador on June 20. Venues and kickoff times will be determined later, the KFA added. This will be South Korea's third meeting against Peru. South Korea had a draw and a loss in their two

April 21, 2023

Under caretaker boss, Suwon Samsung Bluewings seek 1st win of K League season

With their season on the brink after a seven-match winless skid at the onset, Suwon Samsung Bluewings will be chasing their first win of 2023 under a caretaker manager this weekend. One of the K League 1's most prestigious and proud franchises, Suwon Samsung find themselves in last place among 12 clubs this season, with two draws and five losses. This is the longest winless streak to start a season in the club's history. The previous record was a six-match skid at the start of 2017. Bu

April 21, 2023

Kim Min-jae, Napoli gone from Champions League in quarterfinals

The last remaining South Korean player in the top European club football tournament helplessly watched his club's earlier-than-expected elimination. With stalwart defender Kim Min-jae suspended, the Italian league-leading Napoli got knocked out of the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League, following a 1-1 draw against rivals AC Milan in the second leg at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples, Italy, on Tuesday. Kim had picked up his third yellow card of the tournament during a 1-0 lo

April 19, 2023

Upstart Daejeon beat Ulsan to spoil bid for K League history

Seven matches into their first season in the top South Korean football league since 2015, Daejeon Hana Citizen FC are making serious noise. Daejeon defeated K League 1-leading Ulsan Hyundai FC 2-1 at home Sunday, halting Ulsan's win streak at six matches. With one more win, Ulsan, the defending K League 1 champions, would have tied the league record for the most consecutive victories to kick off a season. Instead, Daejeon made sure they wouldn't allow Ulsan to celebrate a win on their

April 17, 2023