South Korea storm into final as Qatar lose semifinal

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Wednesday, January 27th 2016 02:47 AM

DOHA: South Korea on Tuesday relied on three second-half goals to beat hosts Qatar 3-1 to reach the final of the AFC U-23 Championship. In the final on January 30, Korea will take on Japan who on Tuesday beat defending champions Iraq 2-1 at Lekhwiya Stadium. The two finalists have now qualified for the football competition of the 2016 Olympic Games. Qatar, coached by Felix Sanchez, will not lock horns with Iraq to try and grab the last remaining Olympic Games berth on January 29. Only the top three sides will reach Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. On Tuesday, a feisty Qatar resisted a strong Korean side as both teams walked off the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium pitch without a goal at the half-time whistle. However, Korea opened the scoring through Ryu Seung-woo who found the net in the 49th minute after a goalkeeper's gaffe from Qatar. Qatar's Ahmed Alaa found the equaliser in the 79th minute after volleying in from close range inside the Korean box. The Koreans took the lead for the second time in the 89th minute when Kwon Chang-hoo slipped one past the Qatar goalkeeper from close range. In injury time, Moon Chang-jin fired home the third goal to get Korea a Rio ticket with ease.