By Pearse McLaughlin
South Korea blows away ten-man Vietnam as South Korea hit them for six here at Suwon World Cup Stadium.
South Korea boss, Jurgen Klinsmann has slightly tweaked his 4-4-1-1 formation and has gone with his favoured 4-4-2 formation. In terms of personnel changes there has been just the two changes from the 4-0 win over Tunisia last time out as in comes Cho Hyun-Woo and Son Heung-Min to replace Kim Seung-Gyu and Hong Hyun-Seok.
Vietnam boss, Philippe Troussier has gone with a tactical reshape by going with the 3-4-2-1 formation and went away from the 5-4-1 formation which lost away to China last Tuesday the 10th of October. In terms of personnel changes there has been three changes as in comes Bui Hoang Viet Anh, Vo Minh Trong, and Nguyen Dinh Bac to replace Ngoc Hai Que, Viet Hung Trieu, and Van Toan Nguyen.
South Korea took the lead after six minutes through central defender, Kim Min-Jae who leapt like a salmon out of water as he rose highest to meet Lee Kang-In’s in swinging corner and head it over Dang Van Lam who couldn’t react in time. This was only Kim’s fourth international goal in his 53rd match and his first goal since December 2019. 1-0 South Korea.
South Korea doubled their lead on the 27th minute through Hwang Hee Chan’s low powerful drive through the legs of Dang Van Lam. But all the credit for the goal must go to Lee Jae Sung’s quick thinking to spring a counterattack and of course the quality and weight of pass to allow Hwang Hee-Chan to strike the ball first time. 2-0 South Korea. Devastating counterattack.
Ten minutes before the break Lee Kang-In nearly scored a carbon copy free kick of his first international goal last week against Tunisia but this time the ball curled just wide of the right-hand post.
South Korea lead Vietnam by two goals to nil at the break. It’s been a half that South Korea have dominated without creating too many clear-cut opportunities. Vietnam have defended well enough but find themselves two nil down and will need to venture further forward if they are to have any chance of rescuing a result.
Another quick start for South Korea as they add a third goal just five minutes after the restart courtesy of an unfortunate own goal from Vo Minh Trong. It all came about with a quick give and go between Son Heung-Min and Lee Jae-Sung before Son squared the ball across the six-yard-box for Cho Gue-Sung but Vo Minh Trong got the final touch. 3-0 South Korea. Terrific combination play between Son Heung-Min and Lee Jae-Sung.
South Korea added a fourth through captain fantastic, Son Heung-Min just shy of the hour mark. Son Heung-Min combined brilliantly with Hwang Hee-Chan on the edge of the box before expertly finding the bottom left-hand corner. A finish of a master. A welcome return to scoring for Son following an injury scare he picked up in Tottenham Hotspur’s last match.
Seconds after the restart, Bui Hoang Viet Anh received his marching orders for hauling down Son Heung-Min as the last line of defence. For me it was a foul and should have been a yellow card as he clearly played the ball first, but it was the follow through that VAR looked at and ultimately confirmed the decision of the referee as Vietnam’s night just went from bad to worse.
Son Heung-min then set up Lee Kang-In’s goal that gave South Korea a five-nil cushion on the 69th minute. Son found himself surrounded by three Vietnamese defenders on the edge of the box, he then found Lee Kang-In in space on the right-hand side of the box, he cut inside on his favoured left foot and kissed the ball off the inside of the left-hand post. That’s now Lee Kang-In’s third goal in his last two international appearances.
Vietnam nearly got a consolation goal of their own through Khuat Van Khang’s free kick, but it cannoned off the inside of the right-hand post and bounced clear. Incredibly unlucky. Shades of Lee Kang-In with that free kick.
South Korea added a sixth goal four minutes from time courtesy of Jeong Woo-Yeong. Jeong Woo-Yeong, fresh off the leading South Korea U23’s to a gold medal in the 2022 Asian Games earlier this month, rounded the scoring off by scoring a simple tap in following Hwang Ui-Jo’s deflected strike which Dang Van Lam couldn’t keep a hold of and Jeong Woo-Yeong followed up and slotted in the rebound.
A comfortable victory in the end for South Korea as they smash six past Vietnam without reply. It could and should have been more but all in all a great week for Jurgen Klinsmann as he gets his first two wins as South Korea manager and scores ten goals and concedes zero. That will relieve some of the pressure he was under by sections of the media. Some of the football at times with breath-taking especially the combinations of one twos with Lee Kang-In and Son Heung-Min at their creative best also a special mention to the rock at the back, Kim Min-Jae who thwarted any threat of a counter and chipped in with a goal too.
Next up for South Korea is a return to competitive action away to China on Tuesday the 21st of November when they kick-off their World Cup Qualification AFC campaign. South Korea will be in a buoyant mood and will feel they can go to China and put on a show.
Vietnam returns to competitive action on Thursday the 16th of November when they travel away to face the Philippines as they also kick-off their World Cup Qualification AFC campaign. Vietnam will want to quickly forget about tonight’s game as they were well beaten by a top side and will need to regroup and focus on the Philippines next month.
South Korea: Cho Hyun-Woo, Seol Young-Woo, Jung Seung-Hyeon, Kim Min-Jae (Kim Ju-Sung 76’), Lee Ki-Jee, Lee Jae-Sung (Jeong Woo-Yeong 65’), Park Young-Woo, Lee Kang-In, Hwang Hee-Chan, Son Heung-Min, Cho Gue-Sung (Hwang Ui-Jo 65’). Subs not used: Kim Seung-Gyu, Kim Jin-Su, Hwang In-Beom, Hong Hyun-Seok, Kim Ju-Hong, Lee Soon-Min, Moon Seon-Min, Kim Young-Gwon, Kim Tae-Hwan, Oh Hyun-Gyu.
Vietnam: Dang Van Lam, Duy Manh Do, Bui Hoang Viet Anh, Pham Tuan Tai, Truong Tien Anh (Van Cuong 66’), Nguyen Tuan Anh (Thai Son 46’), Do Hung Dung, Vo Minh Trong, Nguyen Dinh Bac, Pham Tuan Hai, Nguyen Hoang Duc (Tuan Duong 66’). Subs not used: Dinh Trieu, Van Toan, Thanh Binh, Van Tung, Van Toan, Duc Chien, Van Viet, Van Luan, Vi Hao, Viet Hung, Van Khang.
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
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