Friday, 9 June 2023 – 16:10 WIB
LIVE BALL – The Uruguay and Italy national teams got rid of their opponents in the semifinal match which was played on Friday 9 June 2023 in the morning WIB, to ensure that they would advance to the final of the U-20 World Cup.
Uruguay, who played first, won 1-0 over the shock team Israel in the match which was played at the Diego Maradona Stadium, La Plata, as quoted from AFP. After that, Italy won 2-1 over South Korea (South Korea) in a match that was held at the same location.
Israel was able to surprise and eliminate favorite team Brazil in the quarter-finals, but their good run was halted until the last four phase.
In the first half, Israeli goalkeeper Tomer Zarfati managed to thwart Uruguay striker Anderson Duarte. Duarte’s next chance ended up hitting the goalpost.
But Israel’s resistance was only able to be maintained until the 61st minute. Franco Gonzalez’s shot hit the post, but then Duarte managed to latch onto the rebound to convert for the game’s only goal.
This is the third time Uruguay has advanced to the U20 World Cup final. They lost on penalties to France in 2013, and were beaten by Argentina at the top of the party in 1997.
In the match that was played afterwards, Cesare Casadei and Simone became Italian heroes thanks to the two goals they contributed in the match against South Korea.
Italy failed to make the most of the South Korean goalkeeper’s mistake in anticipating Tommaso Baldanzi’s corner kick, then the Empoli midfielder’s shot again failed to produce a goal.
Casadei then broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, after Italy used a high press game to win the ball over. His shot from the edge of the penalty box failed to be held by the South Korean goalkeeper. That was also Casadei’s seventh goal at this year’s U20 World Cup.
Italy’s advantage only lasted until the 23rd minute, after South Korea was awarded a penalty. Mattia Zanotti carelessly tackled Bae Jun-ho to make the referee point to the spot, and Lee Seung Won successfully converted the penalty. Score 1-1 draw lasted until halftime.
Italy pressed South Korea a lot throughout the second half. However, the inclusion of substitute Pafundi made a difference. The Udinese player’s free kick ball from the edge of the penalty box was able to avoid the opponent’s posse, and penetrated into the top corner of the South Korean goal in the 86th minute. (ant)
