Suwon FC earn promotion to K League 1 with last-gasp penalty

Suwon FC earned a promotion back to the top competition in South Korean football on Sunday, thanks to a last-second penalty that punctuated a dramatic finish. Suwon FC played Gyeongnam FC to a 1-1 draw in the final K League 2 promotion playoff at Suwon Sports Complex in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul. But since Suwon were the higher seed in this match after finishing the season in second place, they only needed a draw against the third-seeded Gyeongnam to return to the K League 1. And An

Nov. 29, 2020

[Newsmaker] Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona dies at 60

BUENOS AIRES (AP) -- Diego Maradona, the Argentine soccer great who scored the “Hand of God” goal in 1986 and led his country to that year’s World Cup title before later struggling with cocaine use and obesity, has died. He was 60. Maradona’s spokesman, Sebastián Sanchi, said he died Wednesday of a heart attack, two weeks after being released from a hospital in Buenos Aires following brain surgery. The office of Argentina’s president said it will decre

Nov. 26, 2020

Gyeongnam FC advance to final K-League promotion playoff

Gyeongnam FC advanced to South Korean football‘s final promotion playoff with a 1-1 draw against rivals Daejeon Hana Citizen on Wednesday. Ko Kyung-min scored a 70th minute equalizer for Gyeongnam, 10 minutes after Edinho put Daejeon on the board in the first stage of the promotion playoffs in the second-tier K League 2 at Changwon Football Center in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. As the higher seed, Gyeongnam only needed a draw, with no extra time or penalty shootout in p

Nov. 25, 2020

One additional nat'l football team staffer tests positive for COVID-19

The South Korean men's national football team reported an additional positive coronavirus test from a staff member Tuesday, while a goalkeeper who was previously infected has since tested negative. The Korea Football Association (KFA) said a fourth team staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 while in Austria for a pair of friendly matches earlier this month. During the November trip, seven players were also infected: Lee Dong-jun and Kim Moon-hwan of Busan IPark, Kwon Chang-hoon of SC F

Nov. 24, 2020

Son Heung-min takes over Premier League scoring lead with goal vs. Man City

Back from international duty marred by coronavirus infections for his teammates, Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min has claimed the sole possession of the Premier League scoring lead. Son netted a fifth-minute opener for a 2-0 victory over Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Saturday (local time). It was his ninth goal in nine matches in the league this year, putting Son ahead of three players -- Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Everton, Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Jamie Var

Nov. 22, 2020

[News Focus] Euro 2020, with 12 joint hosts, draws attention amid pandemic

SEJONG -- Alongside the Tokyo Summer Olympics, another big international sports event is slated for next summer: the Euro 2020. Both events have been delayed by one year due to COVID-19. The UEFA Euro 2020 -- whose official title, like that of Tokyo 2020, remains unchanged -- is slated for June 11-July 11, 2021, about a month before the Olympic Games. Some Japanese are protesting for the withdrawal of the 32nd Summer Olympiad, citing pandemic risks, and the same is true of the Euros. Since

Nov. 19, 2020

COVID-19-marred European trip leaves tactical question marks for nat'l football team

With one key player after another suffering injury and illness, South Korea's trip to Austria for men's football friendly matches seemed doomed before it began. The team's worst nightmares materialized in the form of a coronavirus outbreak, with six players and two staffers testing positive over the weekend. Those infections left an already banged-up team decimated. Considering the circumstances, head coach Paulo Bento did an admirable job guiding South Korea to a win and a loss in two matche

Nov. 18, 2020

4 players, 1 staffer on S. Korean nat'l football team test positive for COVID-19

Four players and one staff member on the South Korean men’s national football team have tested positive for the novel coronavirus while in Austria to play friendly matches. The Korea Football Association said Saturday that forward Lee Dong-jun, midfielders Kwon Chang-hoon and Hwang In-beom, goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo, and an unidentified staffer tested positive for COVID-19 after undergoing polymerase chain reaction test at 5 p.m. Thursday in Austria. The team has been staying in Vienna si

Nov. 14, 2020

S. Korea play Egypt to scoreless draw in U-23 football friendly match

Saved by their goalkeeper, South Korea ended up in a scoreless draw with Egypt to open a men's under-23 football friendly tournament in Cairo. Goalkeeper Song Bum-keun stood on his head and made several stops at Al Salam Stadium in the Egyptian capital on Thursday (local time), while his teammates up front barely mounted any attack. This was the first of two matches South Korea will play in Cairo. Coached by Kim Hak-bum, South Korea will next face Brazil at the same venue, at 10 p.m. Saturday

Nov. 13, 2020

New dates for World Cup qualifying matches set

The new dates for the Asian qualifying matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup have been set, with South Korea scheduled to complete the halted second round by June next year. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced Thursday that the second round matches will be completed by June 15, 2021, and the final round will commence in September 2021. Asian countries are currently in the second round of the World Cup qualifying campaign, which began in September last year. Following the winter bre

Nov. 12, 2020

S. Korean captain Son Heung-min looking to settle score in friendlies

Son Heung-min loves playing for his country as much as anyone, but he doesn't put on his South Korean kit just to feel good about himself. When South Korea take on Mexico and Qatar in friendly matches in Austria later this month, the men's national football team captain will try to settle an old score. Mexico beat South Korea 2-1 during the group stage at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and Qatar knocked out South Korea 1-0 in the quarterfinals at the 2019 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup

Nov. 12, 2020

Jeonbuk capture FA Cup for 2nd major title of 2020

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors captured their second major football title of 2020 by winning the FA Cup tournament Sunday. Jeonbuk defeated their K League rivals Ulsan Hyundai FC 2-1 in the second leg of the championship final at the FA Cup, organized annually by the Korea Football Association. Midfielder Lee Seung-gi scored both of Jeonbuk's goals in the second half at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw in the opening leg Wednesday, a

Nov. 8, 2020

Tottenham's Son Heung-min to join S. Korea for Nov. friendlies

Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min has been named to the South Korean men's national team for upcoming friendly matches in Austria. Head coach Paulo Bento announced his 26-man roster for matches against Mexico and Qatar. Son, who is tied for the Premier League lead with eight goals in seven matches this season, was a no-brainer choice for South Korea's first international matches of 2020. South Korea will first face Mexico at 9 p.m. on Nov. 14 near Vienna (5 a.m. on Nov. 15 in Seoul) at Stad

Nov. 2, 2020

S. Korean Olympic football team to play in Nov. friendly tournament in Egypt

The South Korean men's Olympic football team will play at a friendly tournament in Egypt next month. The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced Friday that the national under-23 squad, coached by Kim Hak-bum, will face Egypt and Saudi Arabia in the tournament taking place in Cairo. South Korea will first take on Egypt at 1 a.m. on Nov. 14 (Seoul time) and then Saudi Arabia at 1 a.m. three days later. All three countries have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. These matches fall during the N

Oct. 30, 2020

Retiring football legend says mental, not physical, issues pushed him into retirement

JEONJU -- Even at the age of 41, Lee Dong-gook has felt great physically in his 23rd professional football season. But the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors legend and K League's career scoring leader, in making his retirement official Wednesday, said he no longer has the mental toughness necessary to survive the grind. "I know a lot of people may assume that I am quitting because of my injury, but I am fully recovered and feeling great," Lee said at a press conference at Jeonju World Cup Stadi

Oct. 28, 2020

Tottenham's Son Heung-min scores 8th goal, leads Premier League scoring

Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min has become the top scorer in the Premier League, with his league-leading eighth goal giving his team a tight 1-0 victory. In an away game against Burnley at Turf Moor in Burnley, Britain, on Monday (local time), Son headed in from close range after a headed pass from his English teammate Harry Kane in the 76th minute. The winner is Son's eighth goal in the league's 2020-21 season and helped him take the lead in the Premier League scoring table, outnumbering Do

Oct. 27, 2020

S. Korean football's career leading scorer announces retirement

Lee Dong-gook, the career scoring leader in South Korean club football, announced his retirement on Monday. Lee's K League 1 club, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, said Lee, 41, will hold his retirement press conference on Thursday at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul. Lee will make his final appearance in the club's final match of the season on Sunday -- against Daegu FC at Jeonju. The ageless wonder has scored 228 goals in his illustrious K League career, which include

Oct. 26, 2020

K League's top two clubs clash for last time with title at stake

So they meet again. Ulsan Hyundai FC and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, the two best clubs in the K League 1 in 2020, will square off for the final time in the league this season Sunday. The match will kick off at 4:30 p.m. at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, 415 kilometers southeast of Seoul. With two matches remaining, Ulsan and Jeonbuk are tied with the most points in the league at 54, and no other club has a chance to catch them. Ulsan remain ahead of Jeonbuk for now, thanks to their edge i

Oct. 22, 2020

Another goal keeps Son Heung-min tied for Premier League scoring lead

Son Heung-min has found the back of the net again for Tottenham Hotspur to stay tied for the Premier League scoring lead, though his latest effort was overshadowed by the club's dismal second-half effort. Fresh off an international break, the South Korean star picked up a goal and an assist within the first eight minutes of the Premier League match against West Ham United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday (local time). Son helped the Spurs open up a 3-0 lead at halftime, but the

Oct. 19, 2020

Promotion playoffs in S. Korean football set for Nov.

Two playoff matches with a spot in South Korean club football's top division at stake will kick off next month. The Korea Professional Football League (K League) announced fixtures for the two promotion playoff matches Wednesday. The top club from the K League 2 and the playoff winner will earn the promotion to the K League 1 for 2021. From the top division, Sangnju Sangmu, the club comprising conscripted players, have been assured of relegation for next season, as part of a deal that will see

Oct. 14, 2020