The South Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, is playing against Hong Kong at 8 p.m. on Nov. 11 at Yongin Mir Stadium in the second leg of the 2025 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup). They ended the first half with a 1-0 lead.
On this day, Korea started with Na Sang-ho (matchday Jeonbuk), Kang Sang-yoon, Lee Ho-jae (Pohang), Lee Seung-won (Gimcheon), Seo Min-woo (Gangwon), Seo Myung-kwan (Ulsan), Jo Hyun-taek (Ulsan), Byeon Jun-soo (Gwangju), Kim Tae-hyun (Kashima Antlers), Kim Tae-hyun (Jeonbuk), and Lee Chang-geun (goalkeeper, Daejeon).
Jo Hyun-taek, Byeon Jun-soo, Seo Myung-kwan, and both Kim Tae-hyun made their international debut opportunities.
Hong Myung-bo returned with a three-back formation on this day, following the opening match against China (3-0 win) on Nov. 7. Byeon Jun-soo, Kim Tae-hyun, and Seo Myung-kwan held the back line from the first half.
Hong Kong started with Matt Oi, Sun Ming Him, Tan Chun Lun, Juninho, Udebuluzor, Fernando, Chan Shin-ichi, Gervinho, Jones, Lu Zinan, and Yip Heng-pai (goalkeeper).
In the 14th minute of the first half, Korea aimed for the opening goal. In the 14th minute, Seo Myung-kwan crossed to the front striker Lee Ho-jae, who was in the Hong Kong box. A surprising header came, but it went wide of the goal post.
Korea continued its attack. In the 17th minute of the first half, Na Sang-ho and Lee Ho-jae exchanged short passes in a tight area in front of the goal, troubling the opposing defense. However, their finishing lacked accuracy, and no proper shots resulted.
The opening goal was scored. Kang Sang-yoon netted his debut goal in international matches. In the 27th minute of the first half, he turned around near the arc and scored with a turning shot that pierced the Hong Kong net.
In his international debut on Nov. 7 against China (3-0 win), in which he came on as a substitute in the 19th minute of the second half instead of Joo Min-kyu, Kang Sang-yoon started the match this day and also recorded his first goal for the senior national team.
Korea aimed for another goal. In the 43rd minute of the first half, Na Sang-ho connected with a header to the precise cross from Lee Seung-won coming from the left. The ball was aimed straight at the goal but was stopped by a superb save from the goalkeeper. A corner kick followed, and the defense cleared the ball away.
Two minutes of stoppage time were added in the first half. Kang Sang-yoon attempted a left-foot shot from near the right side of the box, targeting the opposite corner of the goal after receiving a brilliant through pass. However, he missed the goal by a mere inch.
Korea finished the first half leading 1-0.
한국은 1-0으로 앞선 채 전반전을 마쳤다.
[OSEN]