Ecuador bows out of U-20 World Cup after 3-2 loss against South Korea | Football | game

Ecuador crashed out of the round of 16 of the U-20 World Cup in Argentina on Thursday, losing 2-3 against struggling South Korea on Sunday, making a final push in the mini-tri. Semi-final against Nigeria.

Kendry Páez’s class wasn’t enough this time. The team, led by Miguel Bravo, heads home after a very relentless match at the Único Madre de Ciudades Stadium in Santiago del Estero.

In the ten-minute blackout, Korea struck twice through Lee Youngjun (11m) and Bae Junho (19m).

The South Americans converted a Justin Cuero (m.36) penalty before the break, but were punished by a Choi Seokyun header after a poor start by Gilmer Napa (m.48) early in the second period.

Sebastian Gonzalez cut back at the end (84m), but Korea held on to win. A sad end for Ecuador, who have won the World Cup so far. A 9-0 win over Fiji is a long shot today.

Bravo’s team started to faint and they were two goals down when they wanted to feel it.

The first was born from a tempered cross from Bae Junho to the chest of Lee Youngjun who, without dropping the ball, fired a glancing napa. It was the first dangerous play by Asians. A work of art.

Ecuador remained sluggish. Except for Kendry Páez, no one dared to step forward. Meanwhile, an excellent World Cup signing, Kim Yongguk, made life hell for the defenders.

Almost by recession came second. Another work of art, this time from Bae Junho, got away from Daniel de la Cruz, misdirecting Napa with a delicate cut to make it 0-2.

A second blow within ten minutes. Ecuador’s defenses are obvious. It was Baez who saved his team with a solo adventure that ended in a debatable penalty from Park Sangwoo.

The Korean full-back grabs him slightly from behind with his hands and the star of the last U-17 South American game feels the contact and goes down.

The Oceane Nation immediately called it quits. VAR called him, but he saved his decision.

Skin discount in the center. Ecuador suddenly got into the game under the baton of Baez. Feelings couldn’t have been better at half-time, but early in the second half they got a third and decidedly cold water.

This time it was a corner, and the loser this time was Napa, who miscalculated the start, and Choi Seokyun looked like a plane there. Head to stick and stick.

However, Bravo’s men did not give up and dreamed of a comeback, with Sebastian Gonzalez poaching a rebound inside the area in the 84th minute.

“If we can! Yes, we can!”, shouted the stands. But because it was not possible, the Ecuadorian players were heartbroken on the field. (D)