In just three minutes, '1-1 → 1-3': Those two goals were painful... South Korea falls 2-3 to Saudi Arabia despite goals from Oh Hyeon-gyu and Lee Jae-seong

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

South Korea lost by a one-goal margin to Saudi Arabia, despite an equalizer from Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas) and a goal to narrow the gap from Lee Jae-seong (Mainz).

The South Korean national team, led by interim head coach Roberto Moreno, suffered a 2-3 defeat in a friendly match against Saudi Arabia held at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar, at 11:30 p.m. (KST) on the 13th.

The Moreno-led team recorded two wins, one draw, and one loss in four consecutive A-matches played domestically in September and October. After winning their first match against Ecuador 3-0, they lost to Uruguay 1-4. They then drew 0-0 with Venezuela and defeated Uzbekistan 2-0. With this defeat against Saudi Arabia, the record since Moreno's appointment stands at two wins, one draw, and two losses.

Head coach Moreno's contract runs until the 27th. Initially, the Korea Football Association planned to evaluate Moreno's coaching performance across six A-matches through November before deciding whether to entrust him with the helm until the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia in January 2027.

However, as the start of the Asian Cup has been postponed by approximately 11 months to December 23, 2027, the situation surrounding the national team's head coach has changed. With the International Football Federation (FIFA) and the AFC expressing concerns over the association's proposed electoral system reform, the next presidential election, originally planned for December, is also unlikely to be held within this year. The only match remaining for Moreno to lead during his current contract period is against Qatar at 11:00 p.m. on the 17th.

On this day, South Korea took the field with a 4-4-2 formation featuring Son Heung-min (LAFC) and Oh Hyeon-gyu as the two strikers. Hwang Hee-chan (Schalke) and Lee Kang-in (Atletico Madrid) occupied the flanks, while Hwang In-beom (Porto) and Park Jin-seop (Zhejiang) coordinated in midfield. The back four consisted of Jo Hyun-taek (Ulsan HD), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Lee Han-bum (Club Brugge), and Seol Yeong-woo (Augsburg), from left to right. Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo) guarded the goal.

South Korea created a scoring opportunity in the 19th minute of the first half from Hwang Hee-chan's breakthrough. After breaking through Saudi Arabia's defense with quick dribbling, Hwang Hee-chan passed the ball to Son Heung-min. Son Heung-min struck a left-footed shot from the center of the penalty box, but the ball narrowly missed past the right goalpost.

Saudi Arabia also counterattacked. In the 25th minute of the first half, Jo Hyun-taek received a yellow card for a rough tackle while attempting to cut off a Saudi Arabian counterattack. In the 28th minute, Marwan Al-Saif aimed a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box at the corner of the goal, but Kim Seung-gyu dived to make the save.

In the 45th minute of the first half, Lee Kang-in's right-footed long-range shot was blocked by the opposing goalkeeper's save. The opening goal came from Saudi Arabia in stoppage time of the first half. As Kim Seung-gyu slipped while trying to block an opposing attack, Al-Saif, whose previous shot had been saved by Kim Seung-gyu, calmly pushed the ball into the net this time.

Trailing 0-1 at halftime, South Korea substituted Jo Hyun-taek for Lee Myeong-jae (Daejeon Hana Citizen) right after the start of the second half. The long-awaited equalizer came just two minutes into the second half. Oh Hyeon-gyu connected with a cross from Seol Yeong-woo on the right flank, striking a right-footed volley from the center of the penalty box. The ball found the bottom left corner of the goal.

The two goals conceded within three minutes after equalizing were painful. In the 11th minute of the second half, Mohamed Kanno received a pass from Saud Abdulhamid and shook the net with a right-footed shot from the center of the penalty box.

Three minutes later, in a Saudi Arabian corner kick situation, Abdulrahman Al-Amri headed the ball delivered by Nasser Al-Dawsari into the goal from in front of the net. The score, which had been 1-1, instantly became 1-3.

South Korea exchanged passes to penetrate into the penalty box in the 18th minute of the second half, but the finish was lacking. Lee Kang-in's right-footed shot went wide, and his subsequent left-footed shot was blocked by the goalkeeper.

In the 21st minute of the second half, Son Heung-min seized a decisive opportunity due to a passing error by the Saudi Arabian goalkeeper. However, his powerful right-footed shot from the center of the penalty box flew over the crossbar.

Lee Jae-seong kept the hope of a comeback alive. Substituted in for Park Jin-seop in the 21st minute of the second half, Lee Jae-seong tasted goal just two minutes after entering the field. He finished with his left foot in front of the goal from a pass by Hwang Hee-chan on the left side of the penalty box, narrowing the gap to 2-3.

In the 34th minute of the second half, Lee Kang-in attempted another left-footed shot, but the ball went straight at the goalkeeper. Head coach Moreno even brought on striker Um Ji-sung (Swansea City), but an equalizer never materialized.

In the October FIFA rankings, South Korea was ranked 32nd, 23 spots higher than Saudi Arabia (55th). With this defeat, South Korea's all-time record against Saudi Arabia now stands at five wins, nine draws, and six losses.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original