By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter

The youngest of South Korea's national football teams is following in the footsteps of its older brothers.

The Korean team at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup will face host team Nigeria in the quarterfinals early Tuesday morning (KST) after the Taeguk Warriors defeated Mexico 5-3 in a penalty shootout Friday.

Korean midfielder Kim Dong-jin scored a dramatic late goal in second half stoppage time to tie the game 1-1 and give the team new life. After the match remained deadlocked after a 30-minute extra-time period, all five Korean shooters scored in the shootout.

With the victory in the round of 16, South Korea, which finished second in the preliminary round with two wins and a loss in Group F, joins the top eight for the first time since the 1987 Under-17 World Cup in Canada.

The Korean team also reached the quarterfinals at the Under-21 World Cup in Egypt in October.

"We kept fighting right until the last moment, and it paid off," said South Korea manager Lee Kwang-jong.

Lee sent out a 4-3-3 formation against the Mexicans with striker Lee Jong-ho flanked by Son Heung-min and Nam Seung-woo up front.

The Koreans took the game to the Latin Americans. In the 36th minute, Lee stormed into the box from the right side and sent a cross to midfielder Yun Il-lok, whose header bounced off the artificial turf and then off the cross bar.

Korea challenged again in the 42nd minute when Son rifled a shot from 30 yards that was blocked by diving Mexican goalie Jose Rodriguez at the near post.

While the Koreans couldn't finish on any of their opportunities, the Mexicans changed the dynamic of the match with one shot. Mexican playmaker Victor Manon broke away from two Korean defenders and made a through pass to the left to forward Guillermo Madrigal who deposited the ball into the back of the net.

Mexico came out in the second half ready to defend its lead for the duration. The Korean manager made a pair of substitutions, bringing in Lee Kang and Kim Dong-jin for Nam and Son but the move certainly didn't pay off right away. In fact, Mexico had a couple of opportunities to send the Koreans home.

In the 62nd, Manon's free kick hit the crossbar and in the 88th, Kristian Alvarez scored on a header but it was ruled offside.

The Koreans made one last press in stoppage time with their survival in the tournament on the line.

Yun's pass from the right side, midway between the goal line and 18-yard box, hit Kim Dong-jin who left-footed it in for the 1-1 draw.

After 120 minutes, the teams went to a shootout and Korea's first kicker, Lee Kang, made no mistake. But the Mexicans were doomed when their first shooter, Carlos Campos was stopped by 1.95-meter Korean goalie Kim Jin-young.

The next four Korean shooters buried their chances and the spot in the quarters was set.

"When our first shot of the game hit the crossbar, I thought we would be unlucky today. But my boys played so well, without any desperation. I am very proud of them," manager Lee said.

"We prepared for the penalty shootout because it is part of the tournament. Our young guns did well."

Nigeria defeated New Zealand 5-0 in the round of 16.

The Korean under-17 team has beaten Nigeria before: a 2-0 victory in the Abu Dhabi Four Nations Invitational tournament in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in April.

Korea has had success against Nigeria at all levels - the national team holds a 2-1-0 record, the Olympic team is 3-0, and the under-20 and under-17 teams each have one win.

The Korean commander believes Nigeria will be a formidable opponent, calling them the tournament's best squad.

"They are the strongest. Their players are brilliant. We will study them before the match."

Nigeria has won the Under-17 World Cup three times, including the 2007 tournament in Korea.

Lee also downplayed the significance of their win against Nigeria in April.

"This team is totally different than the one we played in April. A lot of their players were playing abroad or in their domestic league. That victory in the UAE doesn't mean anything," Lee said

Up against such a powerhouse, Lee was modest when discussing his expectations.

"Actually it is true that the Asia teams are a little far from being at the same level as the top teams in the world. We will compete with Nigeria as if it is the final," he said.

The game will begin at 3 a.m. (KST), early Tuesday.

yc@koreatimes.co.kr