Kim Eun-Joong-ho’s captain, Lee Seung-won, turned heads with his performance against France.
The South Korean U-20 national soccer team defeated France 2-1 in their Group F match at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinos in Mendoza, Argentina, at 3:00 a.m. KST on June 23. Back-to-back goals from Lee Seung-won in the 22nd minute and Lee Young-joon in the 19th minute helped South Korea hold off France, who were held to a lone goal from Alain Birginius in the 25th minute, to advance to the Round of 16.스포츠토토
It was a very good performance against France, who were objectively the strongest team in the group. They may have been outplayed, but they were incredibly focused in their chances and kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Leading the way was Lee Seung-won. Lee opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after a French corner kick turned into a counterattack. Winger Kim Yong-han won a battle with the defense on the left flank before sending a ground ball to Lee Seung-won, who cut into the center of the box and unleashed an easy right-footed shot that left French goalkeeper Timothy Rotutala helpless. The goal gave the Koreans confidence that they could win the match regardless of the flow of the game.
Lee made his presence felt in the 19th minute of the second half. He won a free kick in the left corner of the French box and delivered a precise kick to Lee Young-joon, who was free in the box. Lee converted Lee’s free kick into a sensational header for the second goal of the game. In no time at all, South Korea had a two-goal lead.
The rookie made his professional debut this year with Gangwon FC. He was recruited by Kim Jung-ho for his performance in the U-League in 2022 and was named captain at the 2023 AFC Uzbekistan U-23 Asian Cup, where he not only served as the core of the midfield, but also provided excellent on-pitch leadership. He has earned the trust of his manager by playing with dedication rather than points, and he even had a heroic performance against France with one goal and one assist. From the very first game of the U-20 World Cup, it was a Cinderella story.