Son Heung-min's Fighting Spirit Doubles Focus... South Korea Draws with Uruguay (Comprehensive)

A Fierce Battle in Jungwon, Laying the Groundwork to Continue the Challenge for the Round of 16
Face-off Against Ghana at the Same Venue on the 28th at 10 PM

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The South Korean national football team earned 1 point in their first match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. On the 24th, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, they played to a goalless draw against Uruguay in the Group H match. Although they did not secure a victory, they shared the points and laid the groundwork to continue their challenge for the Round of 16.

Led by head coach Paulo Bento, the team featured Son Heung-min (Tottenham), who played the full match wearing a facial protective mask after surgery for an orbital fracture. The players responded to their captain’s fighting spirit with concentration. They rarely lost the midfield battle and created several chances. However, a lack of finishing meant their shots repeatedly missed the goal.

The defense did their part. With consistent strong pressure, they forced the opponents into mistakes and used quick movements to block passing lanes in advance. Luck was also on their side. In the 43rd minute of the first half, Diego God?n’s (V?lez Sarsfield) header from a corner kick hit the post and bounced out, and in the 44th minute of the second half, Federico Valverde’s (Real Madrid) long-range shot struck the top of the goal.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Having overcome the crisis, the team successfully shut down the opponent’s attacks until the end, finishing the match without conceding a goal. This marked two consecutive clean sheets following the 2-0 victory over Germany in the third group stage match of the 2018 Russia tournament. This is a first in the history of South Korean football.

This achievement was built on solid teamwork. The players, who have worked with coach Bento for over four years, moved agilely in the 4-1-4-1 formation used that day. Notably, Na Sang-ho (Seoul), who took the opportunity to play in place of Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), who had a thigh muscle injury, performed brilliantly. He constantly shook the opponent’s defense with vigorous movements on the right flank.

In defense, Kim Moon-hwan (Jeonbuk) effectively disrupted Uruguay’s flow with bold movements. His offensive contributions also stood out. In the 26th minute of the first half, he assisted Son Heung-min’s penetration with a long pass from the defensive zone, and in the 34th minute, he delivered a sharp pass from the right side of the penalty area to Hwang Ui-jo (Olimpia Asunci?n) in front of the goal. Son Heung-min took a shot after beating two defenders but was blocked by the defensive wall. Hwang Ui-jo’s right-footed non-stop shot flew over the crossbar.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In the 18th minute of the second half, the team faced a crisis when Kim Min-jae (Napoli) fell while blocking Darwin N??ez (Liverpool) during a counterattack. However, goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu effectively cut off the passing lane, easing the situation. Coach Bento made substitutions in the 29th minute of the second half, bringing off Hwang Ui-jo, Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), and Na Sang-ho, and putting on Jo Gyu-seong (Jeonbuk), Son Jun-ho (Shandong Taishan), and Lee Kang-in (Mallorca) to pursue a goal.

Jo Gyu-seong received a pass from Lee Kang-in in the 32nd minute of the second half and attempted a left-footed shot from the center of the penalty arc. The shot narrowly missed to the right of the goalpost. There was one more chance. In an attack following a mistake by the opposing goalkeeper, Son Heung-min, positioned at the center of the arc, took a left-footed shot. However, the shot slightly missed the goalpost, and the match soon ended.

The national team will regroup and play their second match against Ghana at the same venue at 10 p.m. on the 28th. They are determined to secure 3 points and advance to the Round of 16 for the first time in 12 years since the 2010 South Africa tournament.