The national U-23 soccer team on March 27 defeated Australia in a penalty shootout, 4-3 (2-2), to win this year's West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) Championship at Al Fateh Stadium in Al Mubarraz, Saudi Arabia. (WAFF)

By Charles Audouin

The men's national U-23 team has won the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) Championship.

The squad on March 27 defeated Australia in a penalty shootout in the final at Al Fateh Stadium in Al Mubarraz, Saudi Arabia.

With the score tied 2-2 after regulation and overtime, the Taegeuk Warriors won the penalty shootout, 4-3.

The team had defeated Thailand, 1-0, in the quarterfinals and Saudi Arabia by the same score in the semifinals.

The tournament is the final warm-up before next month's U-23 Asian Cup, which is also the final Asian qualifier for the Paris Summer Olympics, in Qatar. Including Korea, the WAFF competition saw the Olympic teams of eight countries including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Australia, Thailand and Egypt.

caudouin@korea.kr