'Kim Seung-gyu's super save + Lee Kang-in's fantastic playmaking'... 'As expected, a top candidate' South Korea vs. Mexico 'super close match' [World Cup]

*This content was translated by AI.

The South Korean national football team engaged in a fierce battle from the first half of the group stage match against host nation Mexico.

The South Korean national team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, finished the first half of the 2026 FIFA North, Central America and Caribbean World Cup A Group second qualifier against Mexico with a tense 0-0 draw at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Guadalajara, Mexico, at 10 a.m. Korea time on the 19th.

On this day, South Korea placed captain Son Heung-min (LAFC) at the forefront. In the second line of attacking midfielders, Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) were deployed to lead the attack alongside Son Heung-min.

The midfield line consisted of Seol Young-woo (Crvena Zvezda), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City), and Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon Hana Citizen). The defense formed a back three with Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon FC), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), and Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), while Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo) guarded the goal at the back.

In response, host nation Mexico placed Raul Jimenez (Wolverhampton Wanderers), who scored the decisive goal in the first match against South Korea at the 2010 South Africa World Cup, at the forefront, and positioned Julian Quiñones (Al-Khaleej), the scorer of the opening and winning goal, on the left wing to target South Korea's goal.

In the midfield, Luis Romo, Roberto Alvarado, and Brian Gutierrez (all from Guadalajara), and Eric Lira (Cruz Azul) were deployed to serve as the link between offense and defense. The back four defense was built with Jesus Gallardo (Toluca), Yohan Bassez (Genoa), Edson Alvarez (Fenerbahce), and Jorge Sanchez (PAOK), while Raul Angel (Guadalajara) wore the goalkeeper's gloves at the back.

The flow in the early first half was somewhat chaotic. In the 4th minute of the first half, Lee Kang-in received the match's first yellow card. He committed a foul while trying to intercept Romo's pass, and the referee immediately issued a warning. It was a burdensome start with a caution card to carry.

Host nation Mexico seized the initiative in the early stages of the match and kept the pressure on. Based on high ball possession, they relentlessly targeted gaps in the South Korean defense. In response, South Korea focused on maintaining its formation and calmly repelling Mexico's attacks rather than attempting to press by pushing the line up recklessly.

The subdued South Korea suddenly revealed sharp claws. As Lee Kang-in began to control the ball, several threatening scenes unfolded. In particular, Lee Kang-in, after gaining possession on the right flank, continuously neutralized the Mexican defense with precise passing to teammates sprinting into the empty space on the opposite flank.

A decisive opportunity also arose. Son Heung-min received Lee Kang-in's exquisite pass and instantly opened up the space behind the defense. He then aimed for the Mexican goal with a skillful left-footed chip shot that went over the goalkeeper's head. Just before the ball crossed the goal line, the Mexican defense cleared it with a body block, and although the final call was offside, it was enough to send shivers down Mexico's spines.

In the 20th minute of the first half, goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu's stage was set. A sharp cross from Mexico followed by a powerful header from Quiñones was drawn into the far corner of South Korea's left goal, creating a life-or-death crisis. At that moment, Kim Seung-gyu made a tremendous reflex save, diving to safely secure the ball and rescue South Korea from a goal-scoring crisis.

Having overcome the crisis with Kim Seung-gyu's super save, South Korea completely regained the flow from the middle of the first half. They stably maintained ball possession, seized the initiative, and counter-pressed Mexico. Lee Kang-in went deep into the defensive area to serve as the starting point for build-up play, while Son Heung-min and Seol Young-woo relentlessly attacked the space behind Mexico. In the 41st minute of the first half, Seol Young-woo struck the goal directly with a left-footed shot from the left flank without holding back, but the ball missed the goalpost.

Both teams finished the first half without breaking the tense 0-0 balance.

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*This content was translated by AI.