[Post] Korea U20 vs. Columbia U20 in Suwon Cup

Korea U20 2-0 Columbia U20

No, the game was much closer than the final score may indicate.

The match featured a Korean referee (it makes sense since this isn't A match or important youth game). However, the Korean ref actually ejected a Korean player 5 minutes into the 2nd half and issued several bookings for both the team. So I can't say ref was biased. Anyway, Korea played with 10 players and scored both goals after the ejection.

Korea team got a penalty 9th minute into the second half. This is a tricky part because the penalty is debatable. It could have easily been a non-call since the player was not anywhere in a shooting motion, but it is a right call TECHNICALLY since the Columbian player fully extended his left hand and kinda hit the Korean player in the face (very soft and absolutely not intended) to stop the Korean player from further penetrating inside the penalty box. So you make a judgement. I assume from experience that this call is not NORMALLY made in a regular A match.

However, Korean team did score convincingly a few minutes later, when Jung Jo-Gug faked 2 guys into air like a popcorn machine before he put the ball in the net. (It reminded me of Charles Barkeley faking 3 guys into air in a popular NBA clip a few years ago.)

I would say Columbia was obviously superior team technically and teamwork-wise. They were more in sync and fluid. However, one knock against the Columbia is that they fail to get inside the penalty box despite a flurry of good chances. I think they only shot 3~4 shots on goals from 10 yards away from the penalty area, with a couple of them soft liners to the chest of goalie.

Korea team, on the other hand, looks like a "3 and OUT" team for the upcoming Youth World Cup to be held in UAE. I know I am being pessimistic, but once they get out of Korea, I just can't see that they will get a lucky break (not necessary from the ref) or bounce here and there.

In other words, Korea has not proved that it can play on the road with the same effectiveness it plays with at home.

The game was defintely played at the pace of Comlumbia, with several moments of 2~3 Korean players chasing around a Columbia player.

Useful info: Korea Olympic Team beat Columbia 5-1 in June (I think) in Korea. Both games should not be taken seriously, I presume, for the friendly nature of the game.

Question: Which group is Columbia grouped with for the upcoming youth WC? I know Korea is grouped with Paraguay, Germany and USA. I think we played a total of 6~7 matches with USA in the last 2 years at U17, WC, and friendlies. We might just well ask for an annual friendly if this pattern continues.