"3-0 Decisive Victory → 1-4 Crushing Defeat": Moreno's Team Collapses in Second Match... Humiliation at Home Against Uruguay, Who Went 8 Games Without a Win [Sangam On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The South Korean men's national football team suffered a heavy 1-4 defeat at home with a lifeless performance.

The South Korean national football team, led by interim coach Roberto Moreno, was defeated 1-4 in the Hana Bank Invitational National Team Friendly Match against Uruguay held at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on the 28th.

This match was the second game for interim coach Moreno. Previously, South Korea started off on a high note with a convincing 3-0 victory over Ecuador in a match held at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 24th.

However, a completely different game unfolded against Uruguay. After conceding three goals in the first half alone, they conceded additional goals in the second half, suffering a crushing defeat by a margin of three goals.

Fortunately, South Korea preserved some dignity when 'Captain' Son Heung-min (LAFC) scored a consolation goal in the second half. With this goal, Son Heung-min recorded 58 goals (in 149 matches) in A-matches, tying former national team coach Cha Bum-kun for first place on the all-time list of South Korean men's A-match top scorers.

With one win and one loss, South Korea will face Venezuela at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium on the 2nd of next month, followed by Uzbekistan at Yongin Mir Stadium on the 6th.

Coach Moreno brought out the 4-4-2 formation he had announced since taking office.

Son Heung-min and Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas) were deployed at the front line. Lee Kang-in (Atletico Madrid), Hwang Hee-chan (Schalke 04), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), and Kim Bong-soo (Daejeon Hana Citizen) were positioned in midfield.

The defensive line consisted of Seol Young-woo (Augsburg), Lee Tae-seok (Ostrava), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), and Lee Han-beom (Club Brugge), while Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo) guarded the goal.

Uruguay, led by interim coach Diego Forlan, a former world-class striker, is a South American powerhouse ranked 20th in the FIFA rankings.

However, their recent mood has not been good. Before meeting South Korea, they had five draws and three losses, going eight consecutive games without a win, and lost 1-3 to Japan in an evaluation match on the 24th.

Nevertheless, South Korea could not exert its strength even against Uruguay, who were in a slump.

Uruguay fielded players active in Europe, including star striker Darwin Nunez (Al-Hilal), Maximiliano Araujo (Sporting CP), Lucas Torreira (Galatasaray), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham), and Ronald Araujo (Liverpool).

South Korea started uneasily, allowing easy shots from the beginning of the match. In the 12th minute of the first half, Lee Kang-in attempted a bold shot but was blocked by the opposing defense.

Instead, Uruguay scored the opening goal just one minute later.

Uruguay immediately launched a counterattack after stealing the ball in South Korea's territory. Nunez faced the goalkeeper one-on-one after receiving a precise through pass from Arasqueta and shook the net with a calm shot.

South Korea conceded another goal in the 27th minute of the first half. This time, Arasqueta scored directly. Seizing an opportunity in front of the South Korean defense, Arasqueta opened the goal with a sharp mid-range shot, widening the score gap to 0-2.

As the game did not go as planned, the atmosphere became chaotic.

Seol Young-woo engaged in a tense battle with opposing striker Brian Rodriguez (Club America), and there were scenes where Lee Han-beom fell after being hit in the face by the ball.

South Korea conceded a third goal before the first half ended.

While focusing on offense, the defensive line collapsed, allowing Uruguay to counterattack. Kim Min-jae kicked the ball to block an opposing attack, but it headed straight into the South Korean goal, resulting in an own goal.

South Korea headed to the locker room having conceded three goals in the first half alone.

Coach Moreno made drastic changes as soon as the second half began.

Key defender Kim Min-jae and others were substituted out, while Park Jin-seop (Zhejiang FC), Kim Tae-hyun (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Cho Hyun-taek (Ulsan HD), and Kim Min-su (Rangers) took to the field.

The effect of the substitutions seemed to appear immediately.

Kim Min-su boosted the atmosphere with bold shots from the early part of the second half. Although his shots were saved by the opposing goalkeeper, the attack began to gain momentum compared to the first half.

In the 10th minute of the second half, a golden opportunity arose. Oh Hyeon-gyu found a chance to face the goalkeeper one-on-one, but his shot was saved by the opposing goalkeeper. This was a scene where South Korea could have kept the flame of pursuit alive, but it did not lead to a goal.

Having survived the crisis, Uruguay continued to target the space behind the South Korean defense.

Eventually, the fourth goal was scored in the 17th minute of the second half. Nunez connected with a cross coming from the right flank with an accurate header, shaking the net. Nunez recorded a brace on this day and dismantled the South Korean defense.

South Korea failed to find stability even after that. In the 21st minute of the second half, Kim Seung-gyu committed a passing error during the build-up from the back, creating another critical crisis. Fortunately, Kim Seung-gyu directly blocked Araujo's subsequent shot and avoided an additional goal.

South Korea went on the offensive to score a consolation goal in the remaining time. Eventually, Son Heung-min scored a consolation goal in the 35th minute of the second half. Son Heung-min changed the direction of a cross delivered by Lee Kang-in from the right flank and shook the net.

However, Son Heung-min's consolation goal was not enough to close the gap that had opened up. In the end, the match concluded with a complete 1-4 defeat for South Korea.

Moreno's team, which started on a high note with a convincing 3-0 victory over Ecuador, faced a major challenge by exposing defensive instability and a lack of finishing power in the second match.

Now they will aim to turn the tide against Venezuela and Uzbekistan.

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*This content was translated by AI.