Following Kang Sang-yoon (Jeonbuk), Lee Ho-jae (Pohang) also scored his debut goal in just his second A-match. Korea is leading the game 2-0.
The Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, is facing Hong Kong in the second match of the 2025 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup) at Yongin Mir Stadium starting at 8 p.m. They are ahead 2-0 in the second half.
That day, Korea fielded Na Sang-ho (Machida Zelvia), Kang Sang-yoon, Lee Ho-jae, Lee Seung-won (Gimcheon), Seo Min-woo (Gangwon), Seo Myung-kwan (Ulsan), Jo Hyun-taek (Ulsan), Byeon Joon-soo (Gwangju), Kim Tae-hyun (Kashima Antlers), Kim Tae-hyun (Jeonbuk), and Lee Chang-geun (goalkeeper, Daejeon) as starters.
Jo Hyun-taek, Byeon Joon-soo, Seo Myung-kwan, and both Kim Tae-hyun (the two) each had the opportunity to make their A-match debuts.
Head coach Hong Myung-bo deployed a three-back formation again after the opening game against China (a 3-0 win) on the 7th. Byeon Joon-soo, Kim Tae-hyun, and Seo Myung-kwan secured the back line from the start.
Hong Kong first sent out Matt Oi, Sun Ming Him, Tan Chun Lun, Juninho, Udebuluzhor, Fernando, Chan Shin-ichi, Garbick, Jones, Lu Zhi-nan, and Yip Hang-pai (goalkeeper).
In the 14th minute of the first half, Korea aimed for the opening goal. Seo Myung-kwan sent a cross to the front striker Lee Ho-jae in the Hong Kong box. There was a surprising header, but the ball went beside the goal post.
Korea continued their attack. In the 17th minute of the first half, Na Sang-ho and Lee Ho-jae exchanged short passes in the tight area in front of the goal, bothering the opposing defense. However, the accuracy fell off in the finish, and there were no proper shots.
The opening goal finally came. Kang Sang-yoon scored his A-match debut goal. In the 27th minute of the first half, he spun around and fired a turning shot near the front of the arc, splitting the Hong Kong net.
On the 7th, Kang Sang-yoon, who made his A-match debut in the second half as a substitute for Joo Min-kyu at the 19th minute against China (a 3-0 win), started that day and also recorded his first goal for the senior national team.
Korea aimed for an additional goal. In the 43rd minute of the first half, Na Sang-ho connected with Lee Seung-won's precise cross from the left with a header. The ball was accurately headed towards the goal, but it was blocked by the goalkeeper's super save. A corner kick followed, and the defense cleared the ball far away.
Two minutes of stoppage time were given in the first half. Kang Sang-yoon attempted a left-foot shot as he received a stunning through pass near the right side of the box, aiming for the opposite corner of the goal. However, the ball just barely missed the goal.
Korea ended the first half leading 1-0. Japan, participating in the tournament, scored five goals in the first half alone against Hong Kong on the 8th and won 6-1.
However, Korea managed to score only one goal in the first half. This was one of the reasons why they threw out a substitution card right at the start of the second half.
Head coach Hong Myung-bo substituted in 'veteran striker' Moon Seon-min, taking out Jo Hyun-taek, who played his first A-match that day. He also brought on Mo Jae-hyun instead of Kim Tae-hyun from Jeonbuk.
Korea let out a sigh of relief. In the 2nd minute of the second half, Byeon Joon-soo made a passing mistake inside the Korean penalty box. He ended up giving the ball easily to a Hong Kong player who was pressuring him. Fortunately, Byeon Joon-soo quickly regained the ball and successfully wrapped up his mistake.
In the 7th minute of the second half, Korea aimed for an additional goal. Seo Myung-kwan took a mindful long-range shot that headed toward the goal post.
Head coach Hong Myung-bo brought in Kim Jin-kyu for Lee Seung-won in the 16th minute of the second half to change things up in the midfield.
Struggling against Hong Kong's two lines of defense, Korea finally scored an additional goal in the 21st minute of the second half. Lee Ho-jae, who also made his A-match debut against China like Kang Sang-yoon, recorded his debut goal with a precise header. Despite the opposing defense sticking closely, 192 cm tall Lee Ho-jae was unbothered and placed the ball perfectly on his head to score. The cross was delivered by 'substitute' Moon Seon-min.
As the second half progresses, Korea is aiming for a flood of goals.
[OSEN]