After the debacle against Brazil, South Korea made a comeback with a 2-0 friendly win against Paraguay. Heung-Min Son was already the center of attention before kickoff.
South Korea has already successfully qualified for the World Cup, but the friendly matches that the team around superstar Heung-Min Son has been playing since September are by no means irrelevant. As the 23rd-ranked team in the world, every international match won helps the team to land in the second pot for the World Cup draw on December 5.
When Paraguay arrived in Seoul for a friendly on Tuesday, the South Koreans were also looking to redeem themselves after their 5-0 defeat to Brazil four days earlier at the same venue. Even though only around 22,000 fans, just under a third of Friday’s crowd, turned up to watch the game, the hosts achieved their goal, beating the world number 57, who have also already secured their place at the 2026 World Cup, 2-0.
Coach Myung-Bo Hong rotated his squad heavily, with Mainz’s Jae-Sung Lee coming off the bench this time. Bayern defender Min-Jae Kim, who had made a mistake against Brazil, was allowed to start again, but his teammates were shaky once more: Han-Beom Lee of FC Midtjylland, who was allowed to start this time, made two mistakes that led to big chances before he was substituted at halftime—both of which Paraguay failed to convert. On the other hand, Ji-Sung Eom (Swansea City) took advantage of a bitter ricochet from Junior Alonso to give his team the lead at halftime (15th minute).
Oh strikes again – Castrop on the bench this time
Son, who was personally honored before the game by the previous record holder Bum-Kun Cha for his 137th international appearance against Brazil, which made him the new record holder, also had his day over after the first half. Hyeon-Gyu Oh, who came on as a substitute for him, seized his opportunity: the 24-year-old KRC Genk striker, who came close to joining VfB Stuttgart in the summer, confidently rounded keeper Orlando Gill to make it 2-0 (75′) and scored his fourth goal in his last six international appearances. In Genk, where he has recently been used as a substitute, Oh has scored twice in nine league games and four European Cup games this season, although he has also missed two penalties (from two attempts).
New international Jens Castrop, who made his third international appearance as a substitute at half-time against Brazil, remained on the bench this time. The 22-year-old will be back in Bundesliga action with Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday, when the struggling Foals open the seventh matchday of the Bundesliga at Union Berlin.
