Korea wins 3-1 against Kuwait
The Korean national soccer team achieved 4 consecutive wins in the 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asia 3rd qualifying round.
Korea won 3-1 in the 5th game of Group B of the 3rd preliminary round against Kuwait, which ended on the 15th. Korea won four consecutive games after a draw in the first game of the third preliminary round against Palestine. Korea, with 13 points (4 wins, 1 draw), maintained first place in the group. In the third preliminary round, 18 countries will be divided into three groups of six teams each and play ‘home and away full league’ matches (10 games per team). The six teams ranked 1st and 2nd in each group in the third preliminary round will advance directly to the World Cup finals.
Korea scored the first goal in the 10th minute of the first half when Oh Se-hoon (Machida) headed Hwang In-beom’s cross. Oh Se-hoon, a tall striker with a height of 193 cm, scored goals in two consecutive A matches. Oh Se-hoon scored his international debut goal in the 4th game of the 3rd preliminary round against Iraq held last month (3-2, Korea won).
Son Heung-min (Tottenham), who returned to the national team after two months after recovering from an injury to the back of his thigh, was fouled and awarded a penalty kick in the 17th minute of the first half as he crossed the goal line. Son Heung-min took the penalty kick and scored Korea’s second goal. Son Heung-min, who scored 50 goals in 130 A-match games, tied for second place with Daejeon coach Hwang Seon-hong in the Korean A-match scoring rankings. The first place in this category is former national soccer team coach Cha Bum-geun, who scored 58 goals.
Korea conceded a goal in the 15th minute of the second half due to lack of defensive concentration. Kuwait striker Mohamed Daham hit the net with a powerful right-footed shot.
National soccer team coach Hong Myung-bo replaced Son Heung-min in the 19th minute of the second half and brought in Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), the youngest member of the national team, who is 21 years old this year. Director Hong’s replacement card was successful. Bae Jun-ho hit the net with a right-footed shot after receiving Hwang In-beom’s penetration pass in the 29th minute of the second half. Bae Jun-ho, who recorded assists in two consecutive games in the second round of the third qualifying round last month, recorded offensive points in three consecutive A matches.
Korea will play a visiting match against Palestine on the 19th in the 6th game of Group B of the 3rd preliminary round.
Reporter Jeong Yun-cheol trigger@donga.com
Source: www.donga.com
