Energetic offense carries Korea into 8th straight Olympics

An energetic offense, led by rising stars demonstrating ability to adapt on the fly, carried well-coached South Korea into their eighth consecutive Olympic men's football tournament.South Korea defeated host Qatar 3-1 in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship in Doha on Tuesday, earning one of three Asian berths at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The championship also served as the regional Olympic qualification tournament, with only the top three

Jan. 27, 2016

Key players on mend for Korea, Qatar in Olympic football

Key players for both South Korea and Qatar remain on the mend as they prepare for a crucial showdown at the regional Olympic qualifying tournament here later Tuesday.South Korea could be without forward Hwang Hee-chan and Qatar could be missing left back Abdelkarim Hassan, when the two countries clash in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship in Doha.The competition is also the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. Only the t

Jan. 26, 2016

Korea to clash with Qatar in search for Olympic football berth

South Korea will try to put their defensive headaches behind them as they take on Qatar on Tuesday in search for a berth in the Olympic men's football tournament.The semifinals showdown at the Asian Football Confederation(AFC) U-23 Championship will be 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. It will be 1:30 a.m. Wednesday in South Korea.This competition is also the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, and only the top three nations will punch th

Jan. 25, 2016

Korea coach fires verbal salvo at opponent in Olympic football qualifying tourney

On the eve of his team's showdown against Jordan at the Olympic men's football qualifying tournament, South Korea head coach Shin Tae-yong fired verbal salvo at his opponent, calling on the Middle East team to play the game the right way.South Korea and Jordan on Saturday will clash in the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship, which is also the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Only the top three nations will get to play in

Jan. 22, 2016

Korean confident sitting 2 wins away from Olympic football berth

Two wins away from securing the country's eighth consecutive Olympic men's football berth, South Korea's under-23 squad remain a confident bunch in the Qatari capital.South Korea will take on Jordan in the quarterfinals at the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship in Doha on Saturday. The championship is also the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, and only the top three nations will advance to the Olympics. South Korea have played in every Olympics

Jan. 21, 2016

Korea to face Jordan in quarterfinals at Olympic football qualifying tournament

South Korea will face Jordan in the quarterfinals of the Olympic men's football qualifying tournament on Saturday in Doha.South Korea had clinched the top spot in Group C at the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship after a 1-1 draw with Iraq in the Qatari capital on Tuesday, and set themselves up for a quarterfinal date against the runner-up from Group D.Jordan got the second seed with five points in Group D following their scoreless draw with Australia. The United Arab Emirates won Gr

Jan. 21, 2016

Competition for playing time brewing in midfield for Korea

With South Korea having already clinched a knockout berth at the Olympic men's football qualifying tournament with one match remaining, some internal competition is brewing in a midfield already stacked with promising youngsters.South Korea have won their first two matches at the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship, which also doubles as the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. The top three nations will advance to the Olympics, and South Korea have

Jan. 19, 2016

Korea to battle Iraq for top group spot at Olympic football qualifying tourney

With a knockout berth secured, South Korea will take on Iraq with the top group spot on the line at the Olympic men's football qualifying tournament on Tuesday.The Group C showdown at the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Grand Hamad Stadium in Doha (1:30 a.m. Wednesday in Korea).The championship is also the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games. Only the top three out of 16 nations in action will advance to the Ol

Jan. 18, 2016

Korea secure quarterfinals berth in Olympic football qualifying tournament

South Korea clinched a quarterfinals berth at the ongoing Olympic football qualifying tournament in Qatar with one group match remaining, thanks to some help from other countries.South Korea did their part by defeating Yemen 5-0 Saturday in Doha for their second straight victory in Group C at the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship. It doubles as the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro and only the top three out of 16 nations will advance to the Oly

Jan. 17, 2016

Rising Korean star picks up hat trick in Olympic qualifying tournament

Chang-hoon, one of the country's most promising young players, put his considerable offensive skills on full display on Saturday, picking up a hat trick in South Korea's 5-0 win over Yemen in the Olympic qualifying tournament.  The Suwon Samsung Bluewings' star scored three times in the first half alone, as South Korea won their second straight match at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. The championship also serves as the Asian qualifyi

Jan. 17, 2016

Korea rout Yemen 5-0 in Olympic football qualifying tournament

South Korea routed Yemen 5-0 for their second straight victory at the Olympic men's football qualifying tournament in Doha on Saturday, moving a step closer to their eighth consecutive Summer Games appearance.Midfielder Kwon Chang-hoon scored a hat trick in the first half of the Group C match at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium in the Qatari capital.Midfielders Ryu Seung-woo and Kim Seung-jun added a goal apiece in the second half to round out

Jan. 17, 2016

Offense goes silent for Korea ahead of Olympic qualifiers

South Korea's offense went silent Thursday against Saudi Arabia in their final test ahead of next week's Olympic football qualifying tournament, a concerning development for a squad that has often had trouble finding the back of the net.South Korea's under-23 squad only mustered a scoreless draw against Saudi Arabia in Dubai on Thursday, two days after defeating the United Arab Emirates 2-0, also in Dubai, with a much more energetic attack in the second half.In the opening 45 minutes against Sau

Jan. 8, 2016

Korea play Saudi Arabia to scoreless draw in final test before Olympic qualifiers

South Korea ended in a scoreless draw with Saudi Arabia on Thursday in Dubai in their final test match ahead of next week's Olympic qualifiers.Coming off a 2-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, South Korea failed to generate much offense against Saudi Arabia at Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium.South Korea will now travel to Qatar Friday to prepare for the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship Jan. 12-30. The competition will double as the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer

Jan. 8, 2016

Korea to face Saudi Arabia in final test before Olympic qualifiers

South Korea will face Saudi Arabia in Dubai on Thursday in their final test match before next week's Olympic qualifiers.South Korea's under-23 squad defeated the United Arab Emirates 2-0 on Tuesday at Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, and will return to the same venue to take on Saudi Arabia.South Korea have not yet lost to Saudi Arabia at the U-23 level, with three wins and two draws.It will be the final prep match for South Korea before the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship in Qatar from Jan. 12

Jan. 6, 2016

Nat'l team goalkeeper joins Japanese club

National team goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu has left his South Korean club to join a Japanese side.Vissel Kobe in the top-flight J1 League announced on their website Tuesday they've acquired the 25-year-old custodian. Kim's former K League Classic club, Ulsan Hyundai, also announced Kim's departure, saying he commanded the largest amount of transfer fee for a South Korean goalkeeper, without giving specifics.Kim had spent his entire eight-year professional career with Ulsan. He'd moved up Ulsan's you

Jan. 5, 2016

Subs make difference for S. Korea vs. UAE in test football match

Substitutes made all the difference for South Korean men's under-23 football team in the 2-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates in Dubai on Monday, as they jolted a dull match back to life with their energy and pace.To start the first of two test matches before the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship in Qatar -- also the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Olympics -- South Korea head coach Shin Tae-yong left most of his big guns on the bench. Shin later admitted it was by design, so he co

Jan. 5, 2016

S. Korea defeat UAE 2-0 in test before Olympic football

The South Korean men's under-23 football team defeated the United Arab Emirates 2-0 in Dubai on Monday in a test match ahead of next week's Olympic qualifying tournament.Winger Lee Yeong-jae and striker Hwang Hee-chan scored a goal apiece in the second half at Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, where South Korea will next face Saudi Arabia on Thursday in their final prep match before the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship in Qatar Jan. 12-30.The competition will double as the Asian qualifying tourna

Jan. 5, 2016

Korean prospect hoping to stay patient upon rejoining FC Barcelona

South Korean football prospect Lee Seung-woo, on the verge of rejoining FC Barcelona, said Sunday patience will be a virtue once he lands back in Spain.The 17-year-old departed for Spain on Sunday to rejoin the reigning La Liga champion, as an international ban on the club for violating FIFA's youth eligibility rules will be lifted.FC Barcelona were penalized in April 2014 by FIFA for signing players under 18 and fielding ineligible players at youth levels between 2009 and 2013, and were not per

Jan. 3, 2016

Former South Korea int'l Kim Bo-kyung joins reigning league champion

Former national team midfielder Kim Bo-kyung has signed with the two-time defending South Korean league champion.Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of the first-division K League Classic announced Sunday they've acquired the 26-year-old midfielder.Financial terms of the move were not disclosed.Once tapped by former Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung as one of the country's future stars, Kim represented South Korea at each of the past two FIFA World Cups, and also at the 2010 Asian Games and the 2012

Jan. 3, 2016