Hong Myung-bo Team Leads 1-0 at Half Against Iraq... Oh Se-hoon Scores Debut Goal

Hong Myung-bo's team took the lead in the first half against Iraq with an opening goal created by Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City) and Oh Se-hun (Machida).

The South Korean national football team ended the first half leading 1-0 thanks to Oh Se-hun's goal in the 41st minute of the first half during the 4th match of Group B in the 3rd round of the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup Asian qualifiers held at Mir Stadium in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province on the 15th.

The match between South Korea and Iraq in the 4th round of Group B in the 3rd round of the AFC qualifiers for the CONCACAF World Cup was held on the 15th at Yongin Mireu Stadium in Gyeonggi-do. Oh Se-hoon (number 19) is celebrating after scoring the first goal.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Coach Hong deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation with Bae Jun-ho on the left, Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) on the right, and Oh Se-hun as the lone striker up front.

In the central attacking midfield position was Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), while the midfield consisted of Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) and Park Yong-woo (Al Ain).

The back four defense line was composed of Lee Myung-jae (Ulsan) on the left, Kim Min-jae (Munich), Cho Yu-min (Sharjah), and Seol Young-woo (Zvezda). The goalkeeper was Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan).

South Korea opened the scoring chance in the 3rd minute of the first half with a shot by Bae Jun-ho following a penetrating pass from Lee Jae-sung. During the subsequent corner kick, Oh Se-hun attempted a header shot, and in the 8th minute, Hwang In-beom's bold long-range shot narrowly missed over the goalpost, continuously pressuring Iraq's goal.

In the 41st minute of the first half, from the left side of the penalty area, a calm pass was delivered to Oh Se-hun in front, who then struck the net with a clean left-footed shot.

This was Oh Se-hun's debut goal in an A-match (international match between national teams). Bae Jun-ho recorded his second consecutive assist.

Currently first in the group (7 points, goal difference +4), South Korea will establish a dominant lead if they win against second-place Iraq (7 points, goal difference +2) in this match.