A stoppage-time equaliser from Amjed Hussein earned Iraq a 1-1 draw with Korea Republic but Shin Tae-yong’s side still claimed top spot in Group C of the AFC U23 Championship as both sides progressed to the quarter-finals.
Kim Hyun’s header found the back of the net in the 22nd minute to give the South Koreans the lead but with seconds remaining Hussein struck from close range to secure a point for Shahad Abdulghani’s team.
Korea Republic will now face the runners-up in Group D in the quarter-finals on Saturday while Iraq, who had also booked their place in the last eight after the second round of matches, will meet with the Group D winners.
Korea Republic coach Shin started with just four of the line-up that kicked off the 5-0 win over Yemen on Matchday 2 while only midfielder Ali Qasim survived from the Iraqi side that started in the 3-2 win over Uzbekistan as Shahad Abdulghani made wholesale changes to his team.
The match, as a result, had a disjointed feel for much of the first half, but the East Asians managed to take the lead in the 22nd minute when Lee Chang-min clipped the ball into the centre and Kim Hyun powered his header home via the palms of goalkeeper Karrar Ibrahim.
It took the Iraqis until eight minutes from half time before they created their first opening, only for Amjed Hussein’s header to be easily collected by Kim Dong-jun, while a minute later Lee Yeong-jae fired his long-range attempt over the Iraq goal.
Hussein scuffed another effort wide in the 40th minute before the South Koreans closed out the half on top with Kim Seung-jun shooting wide from distance and Kim Hyun heading just off target after another fine cross – this time from the right – by Lee Chang-min.
The East Asians continued to look the more likely to score in the second 45 minutes, with Kim Hyun turning creator in the 61st minute as he released substitute Kwon Chang-hoon in on goal, but the midfielder pulled his shot well wide.
Eight minutes later, Kim Hyun launched another attack down the right side, crossing to Yu In-soo, whose first-time shot was well off target.
The Iraqis grew increasingly desperate as time ticked down but Mazin Fayyadh’s looping 80th minute header was as close as they went to levelling the scores as it clipped the top of the crossbar before bouncing to safety.
But with seconds remaining, substitute Mohannad Abdulraheem centred from the right to Hussein, who slid in to score from close range and seal a point for the Iraqis.