Last minute goal gifts S. Korea 1-0 win over China in U23 AFC championship

BANGKOK - A last minute goal gifted South Korea a 1-0 win over China in the first round of group C at 2020 AFC U23 championship in Songkhla, Thailand on Thursday.

In the 93rd minute of the match, Lee Dunjun received a long pass and penetrated into the penalty area to score the winning goal for South Korean side.

Both sides had chances in the seesaw battle of the first half to score but just missed them all, while China's center forward Zhang Yuning was forced off the pitch due to foot injury in the 42nd minute.

"Zhang is diagnosed as phalangeal fracture, and will miss the rest of the tournament," said a official releasement of Team China.

Yang Liyu, who was pitched on since Zhang's injury, missed an one-on-one opportunity to break the deadlock for China in the 48th minute of the match.

Elsewhere on Thursday, Qatar held a 2-2 draw with Syria, while Saudi Arabia beat Japan 2-1. The other match of Group C witnessed a 1-1 tie between defending champion Uzbekistan and Iran.

China will take on Uzbekistan next on Sunday with Iran facing South Korea on the same day. The 16-team tournament offers three Asian tickets to 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.