Seoul: South Korea defeated Kuwait 4-0 at home, concluding their World Cup qualifying campaign with an undefeated record. The match took place at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, where 41,911 fans witnessed the team’s final Group B match in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, South Korea, ranked 23rd in the world, secured first place in their group with 22 points from six wins and four draws. Kuwait, ranked 134th, finished last with five points, consisting of five draws and five losses. The top two teams from three groups in this round qualify for the World Cup, with Jordan securing the second spot from Group B.
South Korea had already secured their World Cup berth with a 2-0 victory over Iraq last Thursday. Head coach Hong Myung-bo indicated that the match against Kuwait would serve as a proving ground for younger, less experienced players. True to his word, Hong made significant changes to the lineup, with seven new players, six of whom had fewer than ten caps.
The match saw new players significantly contributing to South Korea’s offensive efforts. This victory marked only the second home win for South Korea in five matches during the third round. Their upcoming international matches are scheduled against China, Hong Kong, and Japan at the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship in July.
In goal, Lee Chang-geun made his second international appearance at age 31, replacing Jo Hyeon-woo, who had started all nine previous matches of the third round. On defense, fullbacks Lee Tae-seok and Seol Young-woo made their second consecutive starts. Lee Han-beom, 22, made his international debut, while Kim Ju-sung, 24, collected his third cap.
Veteran midfielder Hwang In-beom was paired with Won Du-jae, who returned to the national team after two years for his eighth cap. Lee Kang-in resumed his position as an attacking midfielder, joined by newcomers Bae Jun-ho and Jeon Jin-woo. Bae, initially not selected, was brought in specifically for this match, while Jeon made his national team debut against Iraq.
Captain Son Heung-min, initially sidelined with a foot injury, was back on the bench at the start of the match. Among the new players, Bae had notable opportunities early on but was denied by the post and a save from Kuwait’s goalkeeper.
South Korea’s lead came from a corner by Hwang In-beom that deflected off a Kuwait defender. Lee Kang-in and Oh Hyeon-gyu scored goals in quick succession after halftime, with assists from Bae. Lee Jae-sung, a substitute in the second half, scored the final goal.
Son Heung-min replaced Oh in the 75th minute, earning his 134th cap. This places Son third on South Korea’s all-time list, just behind his coach Hong Myung-bo and former star Cha Bum-kun.