By Pearse McLaughlin
Five star showing from South Korea as they cruise past Singapore here in the Seoul World Cup Stadium in what was a bumper crowd of 64,381 in attendance. The home side ran out comfortable winners against Takayuki Nishigaya’s men courtesy of goals from Cho Gue-sung, Hwang Hee-Chan, Son Heung-Min, Hwang Ui-Jo, and Lee Kang-In.
Jurgen Klinsmann has changed the shape slightly as he has gone with the 4-1-4-1 formation which is a slight variant of his tried and trusted 4-4-2 formation in what is his first competitive match in charge of South Korea. In terms of personnel changes there has been two as in comes Kim Seung-Gyu and Hwang In-Beom for Cho Hyun-Woo and Park Yong-Woo.
Takayuki Nishigaya has altered his formation to the 5-4-1 formation as he goes for a more defensive approach from the 3-4-3 formation that won 1-0 last time out away to Guam in Pre-World Cup Qualifier. In terms of personnel changes there has been four changes change as in comes Safuwan Baharudin, Nazrul Nazari, Ryhan Stewart, and Shawal Anuar for Anumanthan Kumar, Zulqarnaen Suzliman, Chris Van Huizen, Hami Syahin, and Ilhan Fandi.
South Korea thought they had taken the lead on the 23rd minute through Lee Jae-Sung but it was correctly ruled for offside as Cho Gue-Sung went a fraction too early. It was a terrific move orchestrated by the master in chief, Lee Kang-In who picked out Cho Gue-Sung at the back post who himself unselfishly knocked the ball down into Lee Jae-Sung’s path and tapped the ball home.
Cho Gue-Sung wastes a massive opportunity on the 34th minute as he rattles the crossbar with a powerful volley as the ball dropped kindly just outside the six-yard-box. Absolute sitter. It somehow remains goalless.
South Korea finally have the breakthrough a minute shy of half time and wouldn’t you know it it’s Cho Gue-Sung who atones for his earlier missed opportunity. All the credit must go to Lee Kang-In whose ball to pick out the run of Cho Gue-Sung was sublime. The pass was almost reminiscent of a pro golfers swing, straight as an arrow, chipped to perfection, and the weight of the ball allowed Cho to take it first time on the volley and slot it through the legs of the impressive Hassan Sunny.
South Korea scored on the stroke of half time and that would have certainly changed Jurgen Klinsmann’s half time team talk for the better. South Korea lead by a solitary goal at the break but the performance has been excellent but for the heroics of Singapore’s backline, and particularly Hassan Sunny. Both teams will be looking for more of the same in the second half as South Korea will try to stretch their advantage and Singapore will try keep it as tight as possible before trying to nick a result at the end.
Nishigaya made two substitutions at the break, with Anumanthan Kumar and Hafiz Nor coming on for Irfan Fandi and Ryhan Stewart.
But whatever impetus the changes were supposed to bring was snuffed out almost immediately as Hwang Hee-Chan made it two nil a mere four minutes after the restart. Hwang Hee-Chan capitalised on slack defending at the back post as he ghosted in to meet Cho Gue-Sung’s deliciously floated cross to head home the hosts' second goal. Hwang Hee Chan’s impressive start to the season continues as South lead 2-0.
Klinsmann had warned before the game that Singapore could pose a threat from set-pieces and the away side proved his point soon after. A Song Ui-young free-kick was bundled into the net for an unlikely goal, only for the offside flag to be raised.
South Korea and Tottenham Hotspur captain, Son Heung-Min proved his quality just past the hour mark as he would add another goal for South Korea, cutting in on his weaker left foot and bending the ball into the top left hand corner curling past the despairing Hassan Sunny. A wonder goal by Son Heung-Min as he puts the game out of sight for Singapore.
The home side would not let up and a poor tackle on marauding full back, Seol Young-Woo by South Korean born Song Ui-Young saw substitute Hwang Ui-Jo coolly convert a penalty to make it four nil on the 68th minute.Expertly taken by Hwang Ui-Jo as his stuttered run up saw Hassan Sunny commit early to his right and Hwang coolly rolls the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.
A sublime strike from Lee Kang-in five minutes from time would send the fans into delirium, as he drilled home from just outside the box. Terrific technique on the strike and the cherry on top of the cake for South Korean fans as Lee Kang-In has been the standout performer and if anyone deserved a goal today it was him. South Korea 5 Singapore 0.
South Korea switched into another gear in the second half and ran out comfortable winners in the end against a stuffy Singapore side. Great performance from the home side and things are looking very positive for Jurgen Klinsmann’s men after a shaky start to his tenure. Singapore, I thought performed admirably and can take positives in the way the team defended as a unit but the individual quality that South Korea possess always meant it was going to be a difficult night.
Next up for South Korea is a tough away trip to Shenzhen, China as they look to make it two wins from two as they continue their World Cup 2026 Qualification campaign on Tuesday the 21st of October.
Next up for Singapore is their first home match against one of the favourites to win the group, Thailand where they will look to bounce back to winning ways as they also continue their World Cup 2026 Qualification campaign on Tuesday the 21st of October.
South Korea: Kim Seung-Gyu, Seol Young-Woo, Jung Seung-Hyeon, Kim Min-Jae, Lee Ki-Jee (Kim Jin-Su 66’), Hwang In-Beom (Lee Soon-Min 71’), Hwang Hee-Chan (Oh Hyeon-Gyu 71’), Lee Jae-Sung (Jeong Woo-Yeong 66’), Lee Kang-In, Son Heung-Min, Cho Gue-Sung (Hwang Ui-Jo 66’). Subs not used: Song Bum-Keun, Cho Hyun-Woo, Kim Young-Gwon, Kim Tae-Hwan, Park Yong-Woo, Park Jin-Seob, Moon Seon-Min.
Singapore: Hassan Sunny, Ryhan Stewart (Hafiz Nor 46’), Lionel Tan, Irfan Fandi (Anumanthan Kumar 46’), Safuwan Baharudin, Nazrul Nazari (Chris Van Huizen 74’), Nur Shahiran, Hariss Harun, Jacob Mahler, Song Ui-Young, Shawal Anuar (Adam Swandi 62’). Subs not used: Ilhan Fandi, Syazwan Buhari, Zharfan Rohaizad, Amirul Azmi, Shahdan Sulaiman, Daniel Goh, Zulfahmi Arifin, Ikhsan Fandi.
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
Referee: Bijan Heydari
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