Japan’s slide to third place in their group at the FIFA U-20 World Cup has led to an early round of 16 for South Korea’s Kim Eun-Joong-ho.

Japan came from behind to defeat Israel 1-2 in their third Group C match of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup at the Mendoza Stadium in Argentina on Monday (June 28). With a record of 1-2-2 (3 points), Japan drops to third place in the group.

Japan took the lead when Isa Sakamoto scored in first-half stoppage time. In the 21st minute of the second half, they had a numerical advantage when Israeli substitute Binyamin was sent off for accumulated cautions. However, they were unable to capitalize on the Israeli counterattack. They conceded a 31st-minute equalizer to Aaron Loinavi and then a “theater goal” to Omer Senior in stoppage time.

The result means that South Korea, which has one win and one draw (4 points) in Group F, will advance to the round of 16 regardless of the outcome of the third match against Gambia (2 wins and 6 points) at 6 a.m. on Monday. Even if the Gambia lose and drop to third place, they will still be among the “top four teams in Group 3.

The U-20 World Cup features 12 first- and second-place teams in each of Groups A through F, with the top four teams from each of those three places advancing to the Round of 16.

So far, the top three teams in the group are Slovakia in Group B and Japan in Group C, both with three points. They are one point behind South Korea, who have one game in hand with their final group match remaining. South Korea heads into the Gambia with at least a top-four finish among the top three teams in the group.

South Korea has now reached the round of 16 three times in a row, starting with the 2017 tournament on home soil (round of 16), followed by 2019 Poland runners-up Shinhwa and now Argentina. It’s time to take a more relaxed approach to the Gambia and aim higher.

Israel, meanwhile, advanced to the Round of 16 with a win, a draw, and a loss to Japan to finish second in Group C with 4 points 스포츠토토.