Suk's early goal gives S. Korea win over Thailand in friendly

Suk Hyun-jun celebrates after scoring a goal at a match against Thailand in Bangkok, Sunday. Korea won 1-0. / Yonhap

By John Duerden

South Korea has not conceded a single goal in any of its last nine games with the latest coming in a 1-0 win over Thailand in Bangkok on Sunday.

For a team that has long had defensive issues, this is an amazing achievement and one that should see Uli Stielike get plenty of plaudits. There has long been a feeling that if Korea could stop conceding the kind of silly goals that was all too common in the past.

The last player to breach the backline was Hotaru Yamuguchi of Japan back in August with a fine strike that, it should be remembered, came after Korea had had four shut outs in the previous four games.

Since then the results have been thus: North Korea 0-0, Laos 8-0, Lebanon 3-0, Kuwait 1-0, Jamaica 3-0, Myanmar 4-0, Laos 5-0, Lebanon 1-0 and now Thailand.

This is a new record for shut-out wins. There have been eight consecutive victories with the team keeping a clean sheet. Such form gave the team an easy passage to the final round of qualification for the 2018 World Cup. The final round will start later this year and the opposition will be of a higher standard.

Thailand will be there too and this is an improving team. The War Elephants tied 2-2 away to Iraq three days earlier to take top spot in its group. Nobody in Bangkok expects the national team to take one of Asia's four places in 2018 but a young bunch of players are moving in the right direction.

Both teams made plenty of changes from their games on Thursday. Thailand had a long trip back from the Middle East and Seoul to Bangkok is still quite a trip. Both coaches made plenty of changes.

The only goal came just four minutes in from FC Porto striker Suk Hyun-jun who fired home from outside the area. After Lee Jeong-hyeop scored the only goal in the win against Lebanon, it is pleasing for the boss to see his strikers firing and trying to become the main man in attack.

Korea was the better team for most of the game and was in control but Thailand grew in confidence after the break and pushed the East Asians all the way.

It was a friendly with the result not that important for either side. Both are now looking forward to the final stage.

On April 12 Korea will learn its fate. The final 12 teams will be split into two groups of six with the top two from each going through to the 2018 World Cup. Every game will be tough and there could be clashes against rivals such as Japan and Australia.

Korea will, at least, approach the games with confidence. For the past 12 months, the Taeguk Warriors have been the best side in Asia. This does not mean too much when the action starts again but it is a good position to be in.

So another week and two 1-0 wins. How good this Korean team really is will be demonstrated in the months to come.