Korea Republic have been eliminated from the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020, after a defeat against Mexico in the last eight on Saturday.

Kim Hagbum’s charges lost 6-3 against the El Tri in the quarter-final staged at the International Stadium Yokohama. Lee Donggyeong struck in each half to lead the fight back, although that proved not enough to make up for the sloppy defending the Taegeuk Warriors had exposed throughout the tournament.

Coach Kim made two changes to the side that had drubbed Honduras in the final group match, replacing Kwon Changhoon and Won Dujae with Lee Donggyeong and Kim Donghyun in midfield.

Hwang Uijo started up front for the fourth time in as many games, supported by Kim Jinya, Lee Donggyeong and Lee Dongjun; Kim Donghyun and Kim Jingyu were deployed as defensive midfielders in front of the back four; Kang Yoonseong, Park Jisu, Jeong Taewook and Seol Youngwoo; and goalkeeper Song Bumkeun.

The match between the regional powerhouses got off to a lively start, and it was the Mexicans that drew first blood after 12 minutes. Luis Romo connected a left-wing cross with a headed pass across the goalmouth, before Henry Martin nodded the ball in with a header from close range.

However, it took just eight minutes for the Koreans to restore parity, as Lee Donggyeong fired home with a brilliant effort from the edge of the area to register his first goal of the tournament.

But the Mexicans took the lead again midway through the first half. Romo collected a long ball inside the area to fire his side ahead on the half-hour mark, before Sebastian Cordova doubled the lead from the spot on 38 minutes.

Korea Republic fought back to reduce the deficit, with Lee Donggyeong desperate to get his side back on track. Lee’s free-kick forced a fine save from Guillermo Ochoa, who did well to parry away another effort from Lee on the right side of the box.

Trailing 3-1 at half-time, coach Kim made a triple substitution during the interval by replacing defensive midfield duo Kim Donghyun and Kim Jingyu with Won Dujae. Kwon Changhoon and Um Wonsang came off the bench to reinforce the attack, whilst Kim Jinya switched his position from left winger to fullback.

The reshuffle paid dividends almost immediately, as Lee Donggyeong pulled one back again with his deadly left foot six minutes into the second half. Following a goalmouth scramble, Lee latched onto the loose ball to fire home into the top corner.

However, the Mexicans took only three minutes to extend their lead again, as Martin glanced a header off Cordova’s free-kick to make it 4-2. The goal stood after a VAR review on offside. Cordova then added another with an audacious effort from the edge of the area.

With his side three goals behind, coach Kim brought on Lee Kangin to bolster his attack that ultimately failed to find a breakthrough against the Mexican rearguard. It was Eduardo Aguirre who scored Mexico’s sixth goal with six minutes remaining, and Hwang Uijo’s header deep into added time proved too little, too late.

Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020

Quarter-finals

Korea Republic 3-6 Mexico

Scorers: Lee Donggyeong 20’ 51’, Hwang Uijo 90’+1; Henry Martin 12’ 54’, Luis Romo 30’, Sebastian Cordova 39’ 63’, Eduardo Aguirre 84’

KOR: Song Bumkeun; Kang Yoonseong (Won Dujae 46’), Park Jisu (Kim Jaewoo 81’), Jeong Taewook, Seol Youngwoo; Kim Donghyun (Kwon Changhoon 46’), Kim Jingyu (Um Wonsang 46’, Lee Kangin 73’); Kim Jinya, Lee Donggyeong, Lee Dongjun; Hwang Uijo