‘Zombie football’ keeps South Korea in hunt for elusive Asian Cup crown

It has been labelled “zombie football” because South Korea have scored four goals in second-half added time in five Asian Cup games. The never-say-die Taeguk Warriors have stumbled and shuffled towards the semi-finals, arms outstretched, reaching to lift the trophy for the first time since 1960. Just when you think you have them beaten, up pops Son Heung-min, Hwang Hee-chan or Lee Kang-in.

The manager, Jürgen Klinsmann, seems happy to let his stars do their thing. “Son is a great leader and player and I trust his decisions,” the German said after the latest last-minute escape, a 2-1 win against Australia in the quarter-final that booked their game against Jordan on Tuesday. Fans also trust the captain while being unsure about the coach; for now, though, they are willing to go along for the ride and see where it ends.

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The Taeguk Warriors have not impressed for the most part, drawing with Jordan and Malaysia in the group stage. When the latter took a second-half lead the sight of a smiling Klinsmann did not go down well. Without much apparent strategy or gameplan, Korea got past two powerhouses in Saudi Arabia and Australia in the knockout stages after being 90 seconds away from elimination against both.

The two ties played out in a similar way: Korea going a goal down and not really threatening until the latter stages. Against Saudi Arabia the equaliser – which had been coming – arrived in the 99th minute. Against Australia, where an equaliser looked less likely, it came three minutes earlier. As soon as both goals went in, however, Korea dominated and they won thanks to a penalty shootout against Saudi Arabia and a special Son free-kick against the Socceroos.

Next comes a reunion with Jordan, who were denied a group-stage win against Klinsmann’s men by a last-minute own goal. There should be no complacency from Korea but fans would love a controlled performance and comfortable win. That may be difficult against a team that defeated an impressive Iraq 3-2 in an epic second-round win before knocking out the surprise package Tajikistan. Jordan’s coach, Hussein Ammouta, has had success in Africa and despite terrible results in the buildup has fashioned a solid team who are dangerously quick on the counter. Jordan love nothing more than being underdogs and have nothing to lose in their first semi-final.

When they were thrashed 6-1 by a rampant Japan last month in their final warm-up game, nobody would have imagined the losers would outlast the victors in the coming tournament. Many expected and wanted a Korea-Japan final, a clash between Asia’s biggest rivals and probably two best teams. But as Korea embraces zombie football, a strangely passive Japan have been all too easy to kill. A group stage defeat against Iraq showed their defensive vulnerabilities and this passive Samurai Blue were deservedly beaten by Iran in the quarter-final on Saturday. The Asian Cup was supposed to be a step up on the ladder to becoming a global power and challenging at the 2026 World Cup. That may still happen but perhaps not with Hajime Moriyasu in charge.

Iran have won all five games and welcome back their talismanic striker, Mehdi Taremi, from suspension for the semi-final against Qatar. In the absence of the Porto star, Sardar Azmoun stepped up against Japan and the Roma forward produced a top-class performance. Brentford’s Saman Ghoddos has also started to show his class. Amir Ghalenoei, who didn’t impress during his first spell as coach at the 2007 Asian Cup, was not the most popular choice to succeed Carlos Queiroz. All will be forgiven if he ends their 48-year wait for the championship.

The Shah was in place in Tehran the last time the Asian Cup came to the capital but a title this time would equal Japan’s record of four. Iran are a true Asian powerhouse and sometimes feel they don’t get the recognition they deserve. Beating Japan will certainly help in that regard and so would getting to the final.

Their opponents Qatar squeezed past Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals, 3-2 in the shootout after the game ended 1-1. Uzbekistan had the better of the game but lived up to their reputation as the continent’s chokers in missing three penalties, the last of which summed it all up: Jaloliddin Masharipov went down the middle and put the ball straight into the arms of the goalkeeper.

It was the kind of test Qatar, the hosts, probably needed after four fairly comfortable wins and their experienced players, who starred in the 2019 Asian Cup win, such as the winger Akram Afif and captain Hassan al-Haydos, will have to step up against Iran. With big crowds getting behind the Maroons, there is a real belief that they can go all the way again. To do so, somebody is going to have to find a way to kill those Zombie Koreans.