Impressive Korea hits Uzbekistan for four

South Korea’s Nam Tae-hee, third from right, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s first goal during a friendly match against Uzbekistan in Brisbane, Australia, Tuesday. / Yonhap

By John Duerden

South Korea signed off an up-and-down year of soccer with a thumping 4-0 win over Uzbekistan in Brisbane, Tuesday. Goals in the first half from Nam Tae-hee and Hwang Eui-jo put the team on the road to victory and ensured that, under coach Paulo Bento, who was appointed in August, the team has yet to lose any of its six games.

It was a dominant performance from the Taeguk Warriors who were missing most of their usual starters such as Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min and captain Ki Sung-yueng but were still worthy winners against one of Asia's strongest teams.

The contingent of fans who were in attendance in Australia saw the Reds outshoot the opponent by 17 to 4.

Korea rarely loses to the Central Asians and didn't look like doing so as soon as Nam opened the scoring after nine minutes. The Qatar-based star has had plenty of chances to show the national team his undoubted talents but has rarely managed to do so.

That changed as he scored a fine goal. Lee Yong got behind the Uzbek backline and sent over a looping cross to the far post and there was Nam to volley home with a low shot.

Lee was involved in the second midway through the first half. His shot from inside a crowded area was saved by the goalkeeper but there was Hwang to smash the ball home from close range to continue his fine goalscoring form. Korea looks to have found a striker who is full of goals.

The goals kept coming.

Moon Seon-min added a third after the break to kill any hopes that Uzbekistan, who appointed Argentine coach Hector Cuper around the same time that Korea appointed Bento, in the expectation that he would make the team harder to beat, had of coming back.

Korea had led Australia for most of the game on Saturday yet conceded an equalizer with the final kick of the game and had to settle for a 1-1 tie.

Once again Uzbekistan could not deal with a corner and the ball found its way to Moon outside the area and he let fly with a fierce shot that flew into the back of the net. There was then time for a fourth thanks to Suk Hyun-jun.

It was pretty much a perfect evening for Korea and coach Bento.

The next time the team comes together will be just ahead of the Asian Cup that kicks off in early January. The two-time continental champion can approach the tournament to be held in the United Arab Emirates with confidence and a real belief that the trophy can be lifted by Korean hands for the first time since 1960.