Kang Sang-yoon (21, Jeonbuk) scored his debut goal in his second A-match.
The South Korean national football team, led by Coach Hong Myung-bo, is playing against Hong Kong in the second match of the 2025 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup) starting from 8 p.m. on the 11th at Yongin Mir Stadium. They are leading 1-0 at half-time.
On this day, Korea started with Na Sang-ho (Machida Zelvia), Kang Sang-yoon, Lee Ho-jae (Pohang), Lee Seung-won (Gimcheon), Seo Min-woo (Gangwon), Seo Myung-gwan (Ulsan), Cho Hyun-taek (Ulsan), Byeon Jun-soo (Gwangju), Kim Tae-hyun (Kashima Antlers), Kim Tae-hyun (Jeonbuk), and Lee Chang-geun (goalkeeper, Daejeon).
Cho Hyun-taek, Byeon Jun-soo, Seo Myung-gwan, and both Kim Tae-hyun made their A-match debuts.
Coach Hong Myung-bo also came out with a three-back formation today, following the opening match against China (3-0 win) on the 7th. Byeon Jun-soo, Kim Tae-hyun, and Seo Myung-gwan maintained the back line from the first half.
Hong Kong first sent out Matt Orr, Sun Ming Hin, Tan Chun Lun, Juninho, Udebuluzor, Fernando, Chan Shin-ichi, Karbek, Jones, Lu Zhennan, and Yip Hang Fai (goalkeeper).
In the 14th minute of the first half, Korea aimed for the opening goal. In the 14th minute, Seo Myung-gwan crossed the ball to the front-line player Lee Ho-jae, who was in the Hong Kong box. A deceptive header was attempted, but the ball went past the goal post.
Korea continued their attacks. 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, troubling the opposing defense. However, their finishing accuracy was lacking, and they failed to produce a proper shot.
The opening goal has been scored. Kang Sang-yoon scored his debut goal in an A-match. In the 27th minute of the first half, he turned around near the arc and with a turning shot, he found the Hong Kong net.
Kang Sang-yoon, who had come on as a substitute in the 19th minute in the match against China (3-0 win) on the 7th for his A-match debut, started as a starter today and also recorded his first goal for the senior national team.
As the first half is currently ongoing, Korea is leading by one goal.
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