AFC Asian Cup: South Korea avoid Japan in last 16 after Malaysia draw, Indonesia sneak into knockout stage
- Romel Morales scores in 15th minute of injury time to earn Malaysia 3-3 draw
- South Korea will take on Saudi Arabia, with Japan facing Group E winners Bahrain
Son Heung-min’s South Korea will face Saudi Arabia in a heavyweight last-16 clash at the Asian Cup with Thailand, Jordan, Bahrain and Indonesia also all going through at the end of the group phase on Thursday.
South Korea were unconvincing once more as they conceded a 105th-minute equaliser in a madcap 3-3 draw with minnows Malaysia, whose competition was already over going into the game.
Jurgen Klinsmann’s side finished runners-up in Group E behind Bahrain, meaning they avoided pre-tournament favourites Japan in the next round in Qatar.
But the Koreans won only once and drew two of their group-phase matches, conceding six goals in the process, and will need to play a lot better when they face Roberto Mancini’s Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
“We did not want to avoid Japan, we wanted to go through in first place, that was our goal,” said Klinsmann, who won the World Cup with Germany as a player. “Saudi Arabia is our next one and it will be a battle.”
South Korea and Tottenham skipper Son thought he had won a topsy-turvy game with a 94th-minute penalty, only for Romel Morales to pounce in the 15th minute of injury time for a heroic Malaysian draw.
