Rio 2016: S. Korea plays out 3-3 draw with Germany in men's football
South Korean forward Hwang Hee-chan shoots during the first half of men’s football against Germany at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Sunday. The match was held to a 3-3 draw. / Yonhap
South Korea were held to a 3-3 draw by Germany in men's football at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Sunday, blowing a chance to clinch a quarterfinals berth.
Forward Suk Hyun-jun gave South Korea a 3-2 lead in the 86th minute at Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador, some 1,600 kilometers north of Rio, but Serge Gnabry scored the equalizer in added time to foil South Korea's bid for a knockout spot.
South Korea remained atop Group C with four points. They won the first match over Fiji 8-0 on Thursday.
South Korea will close out the group stage against Mexico at Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia, some 1,200 kilometers northwest of Rio, at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Mexico defeated Fiji 5-1 for their first win earlier Sunday.
Mexico also have four points but trail South Korea in goal difference, plus-8 to plus-4.
Assuming Fiji won't stun Germany, South Korea can reach the quarters with a win over Mexico Wednesday. A tiebreaker will come into play in case of a draw.
Forward Hwang Hee-chan opened the scoring for South Korea in the 25th, as he jumped on a loose ball following a corner kick.
The Germans tied the score just eight minutes later, with Gnabry freezing goalkeeper Kim Dong-jun with his right-foot strike.
The sides closed the first half knotted at 1-1, and they traded goals in a two-minute span early in the second half.
First, it was Davie Selke putting the Germans ahead in the 55th. Then Son Heung-min answered for South Korea two minutes later, undressing two defenders and firing one off his left foot.
South Korean coach Shin Tae-yong put two attackers into the match, Suk in the 75th and then Ryu Seung-woo -- who had a hat trick against Fiji -- in the 82nd.
Suk came through for South Korea in the 87th. Lee Seul-chan's cross from right went off the hand of goalkeeper Timo Horn, and Suk was there to put in the rebound.
With South Korea minutes away from the victory, Gnabry netted his second of the day, on a free kick from just outside the box that deflected off the defensive wall and into the net. (Yonhap)