"What did we do for 44 minutes?" Moreno's team fails to live up to 'Total Soccer' declaration... 0-0 stalemate with Venezuela in a sluggish first half [Ulsan on-site report]

*This content was translated by AI.

Moreno's team is displaying frustrating performance.

The South Korean men's national football team, led by interim head coach Roberto Moreno (Spain), is trailing 0-0 at halftime in their third match of the four-match series against Venezuela in the "September-October Hana Bank Invitational International Friendly Match," held at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on the 28th.

South Korea deployed a 4-4-2 formation. Son Heung-min and Oh Hyun-gyu started as the front-line duo, while Kim Min-su and Lee Kang-in were positioned on the left and right flanks, respectively. The midfield was formed by Hwang In-beom and Park Jin-seop. The back four consisted of Jo Hyun-taek, Kim Min-jae, Lee Han-beom, and Seol Yeong-woo. Song Beom-geun wore the goalkeeper's gloves.

Amid a tense atmosphere, Venezuela recorded the first shot. In the 11th minute of the first half, Venezuela won a free kick outside the penalty box. Kicker Caseres took the shot, but goalkeeper Song Beom-geun dove to punch the ball away.

As the first half progressed into its mid-stage, Venezuela took control of the flow. Venezuela pushed their line up to apply pressure, while South Korea struggled with passing and found it difficult to create attacking routes.

In the 23rd minute of the first half, Venezuela threatened South Korea's goal once again. A low free kick taken by Mendoza from near the left side outside the box narrowly missed to the left of the goalpost.

South Korea repeatedly conceded free kicks in dangerous areas. In the 38th minute of the first half, a defender barely cleared a threatening free kick delivered by Balbo from outside the corner of the box toward the goal mouth.

Amid the frustrating flow, South Korea finally recorded their first shot near the end of the first half. In the 45th minute, Seol Yeong-woo performed a feint on the left flank and delivered a cross. After a defender cleared it, Jo Hyun-taek controlled the ball with his chest and struck it with his left foot, but the ball went wide to the left of the goalpost.

In the ensuing free kick situation, Oh Hyun-gyu scored with a shot in front of the goal, but the referee called a foul in the preceding play.

The first half ended 0-0 without any goals.

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*This content was translated by AI.