AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup
Park Ju-ha’s 106th minute winner earned Park Youn-jeoun’s side a semi-final meeting with DPR Korea on Wednesday and also booked them a spot at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026.
Lee Hae-un almost put Korea Republic ahead in the fourth minute when she beat the Thailand defence and zoomed in, but failed to connect to a cross from Kim Min-seo on the left with only keeper Chonticha Panyarung to beat.
The forward tried again minutes later when she booted the ball over from 18 yards but the opening goal arrived courtesy of teammate Nam Seung-eun, who ghosted into the six-yard box in the 16th minute and headed past Chonticha and defender Natcha Kaewanta off a corner by Han Min-seo.
Thailand looked to answer, with skipper Rinyaphat Moondong’s 30-yard free-kick in the 23rd minute flying into the stands and Cayden Illiana’s half-volley from inside the box a minute later following a similar trajectory.
Korea Republic’s second attempt at goal came in the 38th minute when Jin Hye-rin weaved her way past the backline on the left and laid up for an unmarked Lee, who wasted her chance by blasting straight at the Thailand custodian.
Kurisara Limpawanich was put through by Rinyaphat in the 43rd minute, with the striker surging down the right flank but finding the side netting as Thailand unsuccessfully pushed forward in search of an equaliser before the break.
QF: Thailand v Korea Republic
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Kim Chae-been had her first taste of action two minutes into the second half when the Korea Republic keeper got down to block a close-range header from Kurisara, and then denied Illiana in the 56th minute after the forward made her way past the defence on the right.
Thailand’s determined encroaches paid off in the 72nd minute when Madison Casteen picked up a pin-point pass from Kurisara and, evading the defence down the right, fired a stinging shot that gave Kim no chance at all.
With no further goals, the match moved into extra time, with Illiana almost breaking the deadlock in the 95th minute with a rising shot from the left that just sailed over the bar.
Park then sealed the win for Korea Republic in the 106th minute when, latching onto a defence-penetrating cross by Jin, she burst down the right and chipped past an onrushing Chonticha into an unguarded net.
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