Korea starts Asian Games in style

South Korea's Hwang Ui-jo, left, shoots the third goal during men's soccer match against Bahrain at the 18th Asian Games at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, Indonesia, Wednesday. South Korea won 6-0. Yonhap

By John Duerden

South Korea got the 2018 Asian Games off to a stunning start on Wednesday with a 6-0 thrashing of Bahrain in Indonesia that confirms the team's status as favorite to take the gold medal.

A hattrick from Hwang Ui-jo did the damage on the outskirts of Bandung to ensure that the team goes to the top of Group E and on this evidence, they will take some removing.

Hwang, 25, had been a controversial selection by coach Kim Hak-beom who was allowed to take three overage players in the 20-man roster that is mostly made up of Under-23 players. Some felt that the Japanese-based forward had not done enough to earn his 'wildcard' status and had been selected due to being a player at Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma under Kim. That did not seem to the case as he was too hot for Bahrain to handle.

It was an easy win and looked to be that way as soon as Hwang opened the scoring after 16 minutes. In the end it was almost too easy. It did not provide much of a test for the young Taeguk Warriors for the games to come but then taking control in the first half meant that the players could take their collective feet off the gas in the second half in preparation for the tests to come.

Korea calmed down to the extent that Bahrain started to look dangerous in the final stages and goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo had some work to do, which should stand him in good stead for the games to come.

South Korea's Hwang Hee-chan, center, attempts a shoot during a men's soccer match against Bahrain at the 18th Asian Games at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, Indonesia, Wednesday. South Korea won 6-0. Yonhap

As well as the three from Hwang, two of which came in the first half, there were goals from Kim Jin-ya, Na Sang-ho and a late strike from Hwang Hee-chan.

That this all came with Son Heung-min on the sidelines was welcome. The Tottenham Hotspur star made his 100th English Premier League appearance for the London club in last Saturday's 2-1 win over Newcastle United in the opening weekend of the season. Landing in Indonesia on Monday after the lengthy flight, Son was rested for the opening game. It remains to be seen whether he plays against Malaysia on Friday.

A win would ensure a place in the second round before the group ends on Monday against Kyrgyzstan. The top two from each of the six groups go through to the next stage along with the four best performing third-placed teams. That is when the fun will well and truly start.

Korea will be happy to get off to a great start and avoid any opening day jitters but nobody will be getting carried away. There are much tougher tests to come.