Son Heung-min roars in celebration with Hwang Hee-chan after scoring the comeback goal during the extra time of the Asian Cup quarter-final against Australia, with the score tied at 1-1.

In the absence of a discernible strategy from the commanding officer, the soldiers threw themselves into the fray, fighting tooth and nail. It was enough to bring tears to your eyes.

South Korea continued its tearful struggle in the Qatar Asian Cup. Despite the coach's failure to provide a meticulous plan or adjust strategies during the game, the matches were dramatically driven by the players' spirit and individual skills.

Where is Coach Jürgen Klinsmann in all of this? With such a talented team at his disposal, why can't he produce better results? The gap between the front and back lines was too broad, forcing the players to run tirelessly across the field, visibly tired by the second half.

Yet, a dramatic equalizer was achieved solely through individual skills and sheer willpower. In the quarterfinals against Australia at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on the 3rd (KST), South Korea struggled to find their rhythm after conceding a goal due to Hwang In-beom's passing error around the 41st minute.

It was only through the individual brilliance of Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, Kim Min-jae, and Hwang Hee-chan that an equalizer was forged. In the dying minutes of extra time, Son Heung-min's break towards the left goalpost earned a penalty kick, which Hwang Hee-chan converted into a dramatic equalizing goal, balancing the score at 1-1.

The Korean fans in the stands began to shed tears, not just for the draw they achieved but because of the 'hard-fought' manner in which it was obtained. It was a bittersweet equalizer.

Facing elimination at 1-0, the 1-1 draw rekindled hope.

During the extra time, the Korean players moved slowly across the field as if magnets were attached to their feet. The Australian players seemed to do the same. With a mental edge, the red uniforms appeared more dominant. Having played a grueling 120 minutes against Saudi Arabia in the round of 16 and with two days less rest than the Australians, the exhausted South Koreans ran with all their might, evoking pity among the fans, many of whom shed tears.

Then came a thrilling moment for the South Korean fans: in the 12th minute of extra time, Son Heung-min converted a free-kick earned by Hwang Hee-chan into a dramatic goal. From just outside the penalty box on the left of the penalty arc, Son curled the ball over the human wall, past the left goal line, and the goalkeeper's hand into the net. It was a moment of ecstasy, a comeback goal. Son Heung-min proved yet again he is world-class.

But it was a victory tinged with worry and regret. The upcoming semifinal raises concerns about potential injuries. Hwang Hee-chan was replaced due to an injury in the latter half, and players like Son Heung-min were visibly exhausted.

In a post-match interview with tvN, Son Heung-min said, "This kind of (difficult) victory wasn't what we wanted, but I'm proud of our players for winning through their sacrifice."