Turkiye U17 produced a stunning attacking display to beat South Korea U17 6-3 in an international friendly on Friday, October 2, 2026, with Emir Kaya scoring a hat-trick in a nine-goal thriller.

The 21:30 kick-off delivered everything a youth international friendly can offer: pace, pressing, technical skill, and a relentless flow of goals. Turkiye U17 raced into an early lead, South Korea U17 responded repeatedly, and the hosts eventually pulled clear in the second half to seal a memorable victory.

Match overview

Turkiye U17 started at a furious tempo and took the lead in the 5th minute through Emir Kaya, who finished off a quick move down the left. South Korea U17 equalised in the 11th minute when Ji-ho Park found space between the lines and struck low into the corner. Turkiye restored their advantage in the 23rd minute through Arda Demir, and Mert Yilmaz made it 3-1 in the 31st minute with a header from a corner.

South Korea kept fighting and pulled a goal back in the 42nd minute through Seung-woo Lee, but Turkiye struck again early in the second half. Emir Kaya completed his hat-trick with finishes in the 49th and 86th minutes, while Arda Demir added his second in the 61st minute. South Korea’s Min-su Kim scored a consolation in the 74th minute, but the night belonged to Turkiye’s attack.

Key moments

• 5th minute: Emir Kaya opens the scoring for Turkiye U17.
• 11th minute: Ji-ho Park equalises for South Korea U17.
• 23rd minute: Arda Demir restores Turkiye’s lead.
• 31st minute: Mert Yilmaz heads home to make it 3-1.
• 42nd minute: Seung-woo Lee pulls one back for South Korea.
• 49th minute: Emir Kaya scores his second of the night.
• 61st minute: Arda Demir grabs his second goal.
• 74th minute: Min-su Kim scores for South Korea.
• 86th minute: Emir Kaya completes his hat-trick and seals the 6-3 win.

Tactical story

Turkiye U17 used a high-pressing 4-2-3-1 and repeatedly won the ball in South Korea’s half. Their front four rotated constantly, with Emir Kaya drifting between the lines and Arda Demir attacking the space behind the defence. The early goals forced South Korea to open up, which created even more room for Turkiye’s quick combinations.

South Korea U17 were dangerous on the counter and scored three well-constructed goals, but they struggled to contain Turkiye’s direct running through the middle. Their midfield worked hard, and Ji-ho Park was a constant outlet, yet every time they clawed a goal back, Turkiye found another gear. The friendly format allowed both coaches to make multiple substitutions, but the intensity never dropped.

Standout players

Emir Kaya was the clear star of the match, scoring a hat-trick and leading the line with intelligence and composure. Arda Demir added two goals and an assist, while Mert Yilmaz controlled midfield and scored with a powerful header.

For South Korea U17, Ji-ho Park was their most creative player, scoring one and setting up another. Seung-woo Lee and Min-su Kim also took their goals well, showing that the visitors possessed plenty of attacking quality of their own.

What the result means

While the match was an international friendly rather than a competitive fixture, the 6-3 scoreline gives Turkiye U17 a significant confidence boost and valuable evidence about their attacking potential. South Korea U17 will review the defensive lapses, but their three goals away from home highlight the strength of their counter-attacking game.

Both teams will return to their youth development schedules with plenty of footage to analyse. For Turkiye, the challenge will be reproducing this level of finishing in tournament conditions. For South Korea, the focus will be on tightening the midfield screen and handling high-pressure starts more effectively.