Young Koreans boast control, comfort
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Lee Jong-ho, right, celebrates his goal against China during their men’s East Asian Cup match at the Wuhan Sports Center Stadium, China, Sunday. / Yonhap
Big guns not missed in Korea’s East Asian Cup victory over China
By John Duerden
WUHAN, China ― Summer in the Chinese city of Wuhan is hot and steamy but the most sizzling moment of Sunday night's game between China and South Korea was provided by the visitors.
In the first day of the men's East Asian Cup, the biennial four-team round-robin tournament, South Korea was leading the host nation 1-0 ten minutes into the second half when Lee Jong-ho, who was making his debut, collected a pass inside the area. Swiftly and slickly, he flicked the ball over the advancing goalkeeper and then poked the ball home from close range. It was a moment worthy of the original Wayne Rooney never mind the “Gwangyang Rooney.”
China never looked likely to come back from 2-0 down and that was the way the scoreline stayed. It was South Korea's first victory over China since suffering its first ever defeat against its East Asian rival in the same tournament in 2010.
While coach Uli Stielike was telling his players and media not to get too carried away, others will point out that the host was virtually at full-strength while Korea was without its European and Middle Eastern-based stars. This was a young and experimental team picking up a deserved win against a determined and aggressive opponent.
It was a slow start but Korea got into gear just before the break when Kim Seung-dae, another debutant, used his quick feet to control a pass and poke the ball home from close range.
Some of the interplay was pleasing with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors midfielder Lee Jae-sung especially busy and incisive. At the back, there was much to delight the coach who is approaching his one year anniversary in the job. In that time the back four has gone from shambolic to solid and that was the case again in Wuhan.
Led by the Guangzhou-based Kim Young-gwon, captain for this tournament, the defense coped with the Chinese threat admirably. What was encouraging was that South Korea started slowly but became more fluid as the game progressed. In the end, it was a comfortable victory.
In the absence of some big names, the German coach called upon new faces to show what they can do and the two Lees and Kim Seung-dae impressed with their intelligent movement and intelligent play.
Next is Japan on Wednesday, a game that will give more opportunities to impress and express. The Samurai Blue is in a similar situation to the Taegeuk Warriors. Both countries included seven players in their roster of 23 who had never appeared for their countries before and only had five with over ten international caps to their name.
Japan lost 2-1 to North Korea on Sunday, conceding two late goals to put pressure on itself. Losing to both Koreas in the space of three days will not get the knives out back in Tokyo but will raise a few eyebrows.
Clashes between the two countries are usually fevered and atmospheric occasions but that is unlikely to be the case this time as two experimental teams meet on neutral territory.
For South Korea though, a continuation of the control and comfort of Sunday would be most welcome as the country's young stars stake their claim for places in September's squad for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers when the big guns become available. In Wuhan, Son Heung-min and Ki Seung-yeung were not missed and there can be no greater compliment than that.