This season, 'K League star' Kang Sang-yoon (Jeonbuk) and Lee Ho-jae (Pohang) both scored their debut goals in international matches, leading Korea to victory.
The Korean national football team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, played against Hong Kong at 8 p.m. on Nov. 11 at Yongin Mir Stadium for the second match of the 2025 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup), winning 2-0.
On this day, Korea started Na Sang-ho (Machida Zelvia), Kang Sang-yoon, Lee Ho-jae, Lee Seung-won (Gimcheon), Seo Min-woo (Gangwon), Seo Myeong-gwan (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 Myeong-gwan, and both Kim Tae-hyun had the opportunity to make their debut in international matches.
Coach Hong Myung-bo used a three-back formation again on this day, following the opening match (3-0 victory) against China on the 7th. Byeon Jun-soo, Kim Tae-hyun, and Seo Myeong-gwan held the back line from the start of the first half.
Hong Kong fielded Matt Oi, Sun Ming-him, Tan Chun-lun, Juninho, Udebuluzor, Fernando, Chan Shin-ichi, Garbik, Jones, Lu Zinan, and Yip Hang-pai (goalkeeper) first.
In the 14th minute of the first half, Korea aimed for the opening goal. Seo Myeong-gwan crossed the ball to Lee Ho-jae, positioned at the front of the Hong Kong box. A header that caught the defense off guard was attempted, but the ball went wide of the goalpost.
Korea continued their offensive efforts. In the 17th minute of the first half, Na Sang-ho and Lee Ho-jae exchanged short passes in the tight space near the goal, troubling the opposing defense. However, their finishing lacked accuracy, preventing any proper shots on goal.
The opening goal was scored. Kang Sang-yoon recorded his debut goal in an international match. In the 27th minute of the first half, he turned and shot a twisting shot from the vicinity of the arc, splitting the Hong Kong net.
On the 7th, Kang Sang-yoon came on as a substitute for Jumin-kyu in the 19th minute of the second half against China (3-0 victory), marking his debut in an international match, and on this day, he started and recorded his first goal for the senior national team.
Korea sought to add another goal. In the 43rd minute of the first half, Na Sang-ho connected with a precise header from Lee Seung-won's delivery coming in from the left. The ball was aimed accurately toward the goal but was blocked by a superb save from the goalkeeper. A corner kick followed, and the defense cleared the ball away.
Two minutes of stoppage time were given in the first half. Kang Sang-yoon attempted a left-foot shot near the right side of the box after receiving a brilliant through pass, but he missed connecting with the goal by a hair's breadth.
Korea finished the first half leading 1-0. Meanwhile, Japan, which is also participating in the tournament, scored five goals in the first half against Hong Kong on the 8th, securing a 6-1 victory.
However, Korea managed to score only one goal in the first half, which was one of the reasons why they pulled out substitution cards at the start of the second half.
On this day, Coach Hong Myung-bo substituted in veteran striker Moon Seon-min for Jo Hyun-taek, who had just played his first international match. He also substituted Mo Jae-hyun for Kim Tae-hyun of Jeonbuk.
Korea sighed in relief. In the 2nd minute of the second half, Byeon Jun-soo made a passing error inside the Korean penalty box, accidentally giving the ball to an incoming Hong Kong player. Fortunately, Byeon Jun-soo quickly regained possession of the ball, effectively resolving his own mistake.
In the 7th minute of the second half, Korea sought an additional goal. Seo Myeong-gwan took a long-range shot. It headed toward the goalpost.
Coach Hong Myung-bo made a change in the midfield by substituting Kim Jin-kyu for Lee Seung-won in the 16th minute of the second half.
Korea, which was struggling against Hong Kong's two-line defense, finally struck again in the 21st minute of the second half. Lee Ho-jae, who had also made his debut in the international match against China, scored his debut goal with a clean header. The opposing defense persistently pursued him, but 192 cm tall Lee Ho-jae did not back down and accurately placed the ball to his head for a goal. The cross was delivered by 'substituted player' Moon Seon-min.
In the 28th minute of the second half, Kim Bong-soo entered the game in place of Seo Min-woo.
In the 32nd minute of the second half, Moon Seon-min aimed for an additional goal, attempting a surprise shot from the left side under challenging angles. The shot was blocked by the goalkeeper's save.
Coach Hong Myung-bo substituted Jeong Seung-won for Jeon Jin-woo, who was withdrawn due to a drop in condition, in the 34th minute of the second half. Just after entering, he aimed for a debut goal with a ground shot from the front of the arc, but the ball went past the goal by a narrow margin.
Korea fought hard to score a sealing goal but had to settle with just two goals.
Hong Kong failed to score a single goal.
The match concluded with Korea's 2-0 victory.
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