South Korea overcame Thailand 2-0 to set up a showdown with North Korea in the Asian Cup men’s football final on Tuesday.
First-half goals from Lee Jong-ho and Jang Hyun-soo swept the South to its first final since winning the tournament in 1986. The second all-Korean final is on Thursday. The first in 1978 in Bangkok was 0-0 after extra time, and the Koreas shared the gold medal.
North Korea’s Jong Ing Wan scored in the 96th minute to lift his side to a 1-0 victory over 2006 finalist Iraq. North Korea’s best result in recent years was silver in 1990.
Iraq coach Hakeem al Azzawi said his options were limited by injuries to key players, while the North Korean squad was in solid form. “It was bad luck for us. We will do our best in the next game to win the bronze,” al Azzawi said.
With 322 of 439 gold medals given out at the continental games by the end of Tuesday, China led with 125, followed by host South Korea with 54, and Japan with 37.
