Korea Republic got off to a winning start to the knockout phase to set up a meeting with hosts China PR in the quarter-finals of the Asian Games.

Hwang Sunhong’s charges defeated Kyrgyz Republic 5-1 in the round of 16 at Jinhua Sport Centre Stadium on Wednesday. Jeong Wooyeong netted a brace to record his fourth and fifth goals of the tournament, with Paik Seungho, Cho Youngwook and Hong Hyunseok also on target.

Korea Republic will face China PR in the last eight, as the hosts edged Qatar 1-0 in the other round of 16 fixture on the same day. The quarter-final between Korea Republic and China PR will be staged at Huanglong Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou on Sunday.

Hwang deployed the full-strength squad at his disposal, starting Lee Kangin alongside the three over-aged players, namely Paik Seungho, Park Jinseob and Seol Youngwoo.

Bak Jaeyong started up front, supported by Lee Kangin who was given a free role behind the lone striker; Jeong Wooyeong, Jung Hoyeon, Paik Seungho and Um Wonsang in midfield; Seol Youngwoo, Kim Taehyeon, Park Jinseob and Hwang Jaewon at the back; with Lee Gwangyeon between the posts.

Korea Republic surged forward from the outset, grabbing a two-goal lead within the first quarter of an hour. Seol Youngwoo and Jeong Wooyeong made their intentions clear with warning shots, before the men in red drew first blood on 11 minutes. Seol Youngwoo broke into the left side of the area only to be brought down by a reckless tackle from a defender, and Paik Seungho stepped up to convert the resulting penalty into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

It took less than a minute for Korea Republic to double their lead. Um Wonsang intercepted the ball to break into the right channel and cross the ball into the path of an onrushing Jeong Wooyeong, who made no mistake with a header from close range.

Despite having a two-goal lead, Korea Republic conceded a goal following a careless mistake that Maksat Alygulov capitalised on to reduce the deficit on 28 minutes.

That goal came as a rude awakening, as the Taegeuk Warriors fought back to extend their lead. On 32 minutes, Lee Kangin put Jeong Wooyeong through on goal with a perfectly weighted long ball, and Jeong controlled the ball with his chest to volley home from close range. However, the Stuttgart forward was adjudged to have been offside before receiving the through pass. There is no VAR in this tournament to review such a close call. Another cross from Lee Kangin found Jeong on the stroke of half time, only for the No7 to be denied by Artem Priadkin.

Hwang made two changes early in the second half, replacing striker Bak Jaeyong and midfielder Jung Hoyeon with Cho Youngwook and Hong Hyunseok respectively with the intentions to reinforce the attack and score more goals. As the hour mark approached, Lee Kangin was replaced by Goh Youngjun, who had scored against Bahrain.

Korea Republic struggled to protect the slim advantage midway through the second half, before they got away with another spot-kick. Seol Youngwoo’s cross from the right was deflected by a defender, and the referee wasted no time to award a penalty. Jeong Wooyoung calmly converted it with a powerful effort to take his tournament tally to five goals, having scored a hat-trick against Kuwait last week.

Trailing by two goals, Kyrgyzstan could not afford to sit back and defend anymore, as they added more men up front with attack-minded substitutions. But with the Kyrgyz rearguard left vulnerable at the back, Korea Republic found their chances to go further ahead. On 74 minutes, Cho Youngwook received a through pass from Goh Youngjun to make it 4-1 with a clinical finish. Hong Hyunseok then put himself on the scoresheet to round off the comprehensive victory with five minutes remaining.

Asian Games Hangzhou 2022

Round of 16

Korea Republic 5-1 Kyrgyz Republic

Goal: Paik Seungho 11’ (pen), Jeong Wooyeong 12’, 74’ (pen), Cho Youngwook 79’, Hong Hyunseok 85’; Maksat Alygulov 28’

KOR: Lee Gwangyeon, Seol Youngwoo, Kim Taehyeon, Park Jinseob, Hwang Jaewon, Jeong Wooyeong (Song Minkyu 77’), Jung Hoyeon (Hong Hyunseok 46’), Paik Seungho, Um Wonsang (An Jaejun 82’), Bak Jaeyong (Cho Youngwook 46’), Lee Kangin (Goh Youngjun 59’)