MX23RW : Saturday, July 24 07:20:32| >> :120:53391:53391:
Jul 25, 2021 at 12pm UK at Kashima Soccer Stadium
Romania U23sRomania Under-23s
vs.
South Korea U23sSouth Korea Under-23s

Preview: Romania Under-23s vs. South Korea Under-23s - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Olympic Games Men's Football clash between Romania Under-23s and South Korea Under-23s, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Romania Under-23s take on South Korea Under-23s in Group B of the Tokyo Olympic Games on Sunday, with the Asian side needing a positive result after losing to New Zealand Under-23s in their opening game.

Romania, meanwhile, can seal their progression to the knockout stages with victory after beating Honduras Under-23s on Thursday.


Match preview

Romania players celebrate their first goal on July 22, 2021© Reuters

Despite not naming a single over-age player in their 22-man squad for the Olympics, Romania demonstrated plenty of experience in their 1-0 win over Honduras.

The CONCACAF outfit finished fourth in football at the 2016 Olympics, so could not afforded to be taken for granted by their European opponents.

The match was ultimately settled by a bizarre moment in first-half injury time, with Andrei Ciobanu's in-swinging corner appearing to go directly in.

On reflection, however, it was Elvin Oliva's glancing header which diverted the ball past his own goalkeeper, handing Romania victory in their first Olympic football match for 57 years.

Another three points on Sunday against South Korea will ensure their safe passage to the knockout stages with a game to spare.

South Korea's players celebrate following an international friendly in March 2018© Reuters

South Korea, meanwhile, named their maximum quota of three over-age players for their Olympics squad, but fell to a hugely disappointing 1-0 defeat to New Zealand on Thursday.

The Koreans had 12 shots compared to their opponent's tally of two, but could not find a breakthrough as West Ham United defender Winston Reid cleared a strike off the line in a particularly superb individual defensive performance.

Moments later, Burnley forward Chris Wood beat goalkeeper Bum-keun Song from 12 yards out in what proved to be the decisive goal of the game in the 70th minute.

There is now huge pressure on Kim Hak-bum's side's shoulders to beat Romania on Sunday, as they could crash out of the competition with a game to spare should they fail to do so.

Romania Under-23s Olympic Games Men's Football form:
  • W

South Korea Under-23s Olympic Games Men's Football form:
  • L



Team News

South Korea's players celebrate following their international friendly with Bolivia in June 2018© Reuters

Romania's only change is likely to be Radu Boboc coming in from the start in place of Florin Stefan at full-back.

Mirel Radoi switched the two players during half-time, and it remains unclear whether this was tactical or due to an injury.

South Korea, meanwhile, could look to make a few changes in offensive areas in order to solve their problems in front of goal from the defeat to New Zealand.

Lee Dong-jun could replace Lee Kang-in, who plays for Valencia, after he looked to have a little too much pressure on his shoulders at 20 years of age.

Romania Under-23s possible starting lineup:
Aioani; Ratiu, Pascanu, Ghita, Boboc; Marin, Dulca; Dobre, Ciobanu, Gheorghe; Ganea

South Korea Under-23s possible starting lineup:
Bum-keun; You-hyeon, Tae-uk, Sang-min, Yoon-sung; Won-sang, Du-jea, Dong-hyun, Chang-hoon; Dong-jun; Ui-jo


SM words green background

We say: Romania Under-23s 1-1 South Korea Under-23s

We can envisage a cagey, low-scoring affair ensuing on Sunday, especially given that neither side are exactly prolific in front of goal.

Romania know that a point will suit them down to the ground in terms of progressing in this competition, which means South Korea could struggle to break down another low-block side.






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Who will win Sunday's Olympic Games Men's Football clash between Romania U23s and South Korea U23s?

Romania Under-23s
Draw
South Korea Under-23s
Romania Under-23s
50.0%
Draw
50.0%
South Korea Under-23s
0.0%
2
Collect / Create New Data
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Winston Reid celebrates scoring for West Ham against Manchester United on May 10, 2016
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Saturday's key events


ROWING
· Two-time Olympic gold medallist and comeback queen Helen Glover teams up with Polly Swan in the heats of the women's pair (12.30am-4.30am)

ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS
· Two-time Rio gold medallist Max Whitlock leads Team GB's charge in the men's qualification, while Rhys McClenaghan flies the flag for Ireland (2am-2pm)

SHOOTING
· The first gold medal of the Games will be awarded in the Air Rifle women's final (from 2.45am)

CYCLING
· The men's road race should be a wide-open thriller, with Team GB among those going for gold (3am-10am)

TENNIS
· Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka are among the names in action on the opening day of tennis (from 3am)

SWIMMING
· Adam Peaty and many others get their Olympics campaigns underway on the opening day of swimming (11am-12.50pm)

FOOTBALL
· Team GB's women try to make it two wins from two against hosts Japan (11.30am)
· Netherlands and Brazil, who scored 15 goals between them on matchday one, face off (12pm)
· World champions USA look to bounce back from a shock opening defeat against New Zealand (12.30pm)

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