Men’s U-20 national team drew 2-2 with Honduras at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Kim Yonghak and Park Seungho were on target as Kim Eunjung’s charges came from two goals behind to hold ten-man Honduras to a 2-2 draw at Mendoza Stadium on Thursday. A draw with Gambia on Sunday would suffice for Korea Republic to reach the round of 16.

The 24 participating teams in the U-20 World Cup are divided into six groups of four teams, with the winners and the runners-up from each group advancing to the knockout stage alongside four third-place teams with best results. Having collected four points from two games, the Taegeuk Warriors took a step closer to reaching the second round.

Kim stuck with the 4-2-3-1 formation he had deployed in the first match, although he made his intentions clear by making an attack-minded approach: Playmaker Bae Junho got the nod ahead of defensive midfielder Lee Chanouk, whilst Kang Sangyoon and Lee Seungwon moved forward to join the attacking line, in an attempt to breach the backdoor of Honduras who desperately needed a win following their opening defeat.

Lee Youngjun started up front as a lone striker flanked by Kang Seongjin, Bae Junho and Kim Yonghak; Kang Sangyoon and Lee Seungwon in defensive midfield; Bae Seojoon, Kim Jisoo, Choi Seokhyun and Park Changwoo at the back; Kim Joonhong between the sticks. After an injury layoff in the first match, Bae Junho made his first start of the tournament.

Korea Republic found themselves on the back foot, as Honduras surged forward right from the off to keep the men in red at bay.

However, Honduras were dealt an early blow after just ten minutes, when striker Marco Aceituno sprained his ankle to be replaced by towering forward Daniel Carter.

Carter won a penalty within seconds after the introduction, after being pulled down by Choi Seokhyun on the left side of the area. David Ochoa converted the resulting spot-kick to put his side ahead.

But it took only five minutes for Ochoa to receive his marching orders for an unsportsmanlike behaviour against Bae Seojoon on 25 minutes.

Korea Republic capitalised on their numerical advantage, although they still struggled to find a breakthrough against the stubborn Honduras defence.

Kim Yonghak was at the core of the Korean attack, coming twice close to equalising on the stroke of half time. Honduras goalkeeper Juergen Garcia did well to deny Kim’s effort on 43 minutes, before the Portimonense starlet fired just wide of the left post deep into added time.

Korea Republic picked up where they had left off as the second half got underway, although it was Honduras that went further ahead against the run of play. Isaac Castillo exchanged a one-two with Carter on the edge of the area before curling an audacious effort into the corner to make it 2-0.

Having already brought Choi Yehoon on for Bae Seojoon after the interval, coach Kim responded by replacing Bae Junho and Park Changwoo with Park Seungho and Cho Youngkwang respectively on 53 minutes – with his side switching to a 4-4-2 with the introduction of livewire wingers on both flanks.

The reshuffle paid dividends almost immediately, with Kim Yonghak pulled one back five minutes later. Choi Yehoon’s cross from the left was laid by Lee Youngjun over to Kim, who turned around a defender to fire home with his left foot.

Substitute Park Seungho kept up the momentum with an equaliser on 62 minutes, converting Lee Seungwon’s corner with a clinical header. But Park was stretchered off with an ankle injury three minutes later, to be replaced by Lee Seungjoon.

Korea Republic came tantalisingly close to scoring in the closing stages, only to be denied by Garcia who parried away Cho Youngkwang’s cross-cum-shot on 86 minutes before stopping Kang Seongjin’s pointblank effort deep into added time.

Meanwhile, centre-back Choi Seokhyun was shown a red card for a second bookable offence seven minutes into the stoppage time, following his attempt to block a counterattack by Honduras. Both sides held firm in the closing minutes to ultimately settle for a stalemate.

2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup

Group F

Korea Republic 2-2 Honduras

Scorers: Kim Yonghak 58’, Park Seungho 62’; David Ochoa 22’ (pen), Isaac Castillo 51’

KOR: Kim Joonhong, Bae Seojoon (Choi Yehoon 46’), Kim Jisoo, Choi Seokhyun, Park Changwoo (Cho Youngkwang 53’), Kang Sangyoon, Lee Seungwon (Hwang Intaek 80’), Kang Seongjin, Bae Junho (Park Seungho 53’, Lee Seungjoon 65’), Kim Yonghak, Lee Youngjun