More Asian Cup heartbreak for Australia as Son Heung-min fires extra-time winner | Asian Cup

For 94 minutes, it looked like Australia would defy the odds and reach the Asia Cup semi-finals at the expense of a star-studded South Korean team.

However, despite leading for much of the match with a superb volley from Craig Goodwin in the first half, two inspirations from South Korean star man Son Heung-min saw the Socceroos lose 2 in Doha in the cruelest of circumstances. Lost with -1.

Son, whose career was reinvigorated at Tottenham Hotspur by former Socceroos manager Ange Postecoglou, remained silent for much of the match.

Then, with three minutes remaining in stoppage time and his team leading 1-0, Son-Harry Souter turned and was brought down by substitute Lewis Miller in the box with an unnecessary attack. . Another Premier League player, Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan, converted the penalty, giving South Korea a lifeline they hardly deserved.

But my son wasn’t done yet. After an unfortunate Miller foul on a fan on the edge of the box in the first period of extra time, Son scored a superb free-kick as his team defeated Tajikistan 1-0 and will now face Jordan in the semi-finals. Become.

Aiden O’Neill was then sent off for a violent challenge on a fan, and his initial yellow card was upgraded to a straight red after a VAR inquiry. Australia were already struggling to hang on after a fine rearguard performance late in normal time, but were cooked.

It was a devastating loss, following a heartbreaking loss to the United Arab Emirates at the same stage in 2019.

Australia were on the back foot for much of the second half, conceding a lot of possession, but created their best chances in the actual 90 minutes.

They will regret the chances they missed, especially the two chances they fell to Mitch Duke, who started on the bench alongside Goodwin after returning from injury against Indonesia.

Huang scored a goal in the 32nd minute, but it was ruled offside, and Australia took the lead 10 minutes later.

Goodwin pounced on the loose pass and sent the ball to Duke. Duke found Connor Metcalf and Metcalf got Nathaniel Atkinson wide.

Atkinson lofted the ball to the back post and Goodwin scored with a skid volley.

Harry Souter was booked just before half-time for catching Cho Goo Sung high, and if Australia had won, he would have missed out on the semi-finals due to suspension.

In the 53rd minute, Cho Hyun-woo saved a header from Martin Boyle that looked like it was headed toward goal, and then fired a follow-up shot that Duke hooked the rebound over the bar.

And in the 84th minute, Voss sent the ball across goal to Duke, but Duke’s diving far post header went wide.

The Australian Associated Press also contributed to this report.