Son Heung-min is celebrating after scoring the winning goal with a penalty kick during the match between South Korea and Lebanon in the second round of the 2022 Qatar World Cup Asian qualifiers held at Goyang Sports Complex on the 13th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The South Korean national football team advanced to the final qualifiers by defeating Lebanon with Son Heung-min's penalty kick winning goal. Coach Bento's team finished the second round of the 2022 Qatar World Cup Asian qualifiers undefeated.
Led by Paulo Bento, the South Korean national football team secured a 2-1 comeback victory against Lebanon in the final match of Group H in the second round of the Qatar World Cup Asian qualifiers held on the 13th at Goyang Sports Complex. The goals came from an own goal by the opponent and Son Heung-min's penalty kick.
As a result, South Korea remained unbeaten for six consecutive matches (5 wins, 1 draw, 16 points) in the Group H second round and advanced to the final qualifying stage as the group leader. However, South Korea narrowly missed maintaining a 'clean sheet' record in the second round due to Lebanon's opening goal in this match.
The South Korean team will compete in the final qualifiers starting in September, featuring 12 teams. The group draw for the final qualifiers is scheduled for July 1. The final qualifiers, with each team playing 10 matches, will take place in September, October, November, and in January and March 2022.
Having already secured advancement to the final qualifiers, Bento's team fielded all their best players who had been resting to fine-tune their performance in this match.
First, Son Heung-min and Hwang Ui-jo were positioned as two strikers, with Song Min-kyu and Kwon Chang-hoon on the left and right wings, respectively, and Lee Jae-sung and Jung Woo-young in midfield, deploying a 4-4-2 formation. The fullbacks were Hong Chul and Kim Moon-hwan, while central defense was handled by Park Ji-su and Kim Young-gwon. Kim Seung-gyu started as goalkeeper.
Early in the match, South Korea conceded first due to a Lebanese counterattack. In the 12th minute of the first half, Kim Moon-hwan lost the ball while trying to clear it, and Hassan Saad of Lebanon, who received the ball near the center of the penalty area, scored with a left-footed turning shot.
Afterwards, Lebanon slowed the game down with 'bed football.' South Korea, trailing 0-1 at halftime, substituted Nam Tae-hee for Lee Jae-sung at the start of the second half, and the equalizer came just five minutes into the half.
Coach Paulo Bento is encouraging the players after winning the match between South Korea and Lebanon in the second round of the 2022 Qatar World Cup Asian qualifiers held at Goyang Sports Complex on the 13th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Son Heung-min's right corner kick was headed by Song Min-kyu in front of the goal area, deflecting off Lebanese defender Sabra's head and into the left corner of the goal. The goal was recorded as an own goal by Sabra.
The 1-1 deadlock was broken in the 20th minute of the second half by 'Captain' Son Heung-min's decisive winning goal.
During a counterattack, Son Heung-min delivered a through pass that Nam Tae-hee controlled on the right side of the penalty area and dribbled. A Lebanese defender, Joan Oumari, who fell during the play, touched the ball with his hand, and the referee awarded a penalty kick for handball.
Son Heung-min took the penalty kick in the 20th minute of the second half and scored the winning goal. He immediately ran to the broadcast camera, formed the number '23' with his fingers, and performed a celebration shouting, "Christian, stay strong. I love you." Son Heung-min's celebration was a message of support to his former Tottenham teammate Christian Eriksen, who collapsed during the 2020 UEFA European Championship. The number 23 was Eriksen's jersey number at Tottenham.
After the match, Son Heung-min was awarded the 'Man of the Match' (MOM) for his outstanding performance.
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