 South Korean team captain Park Chu-young, center, celebrates after scoring the third goal in a 4-0 win against Honduras in a friendly at the Seoul World Cup Stadium Friday. / Yonhap |
By Yoon Chul
South Korea beat Honduras 4-0 in a friendly match at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, Friday, with goals from Lee Jung-soo, Kim Jung-woo, Park Chu-young and Lee Keun-ho.
Defender Lee Jung-soo gave the home side the lead in the first half, which Kim doubled before the break.
The Taeguk Warriors’ captain Park of AS Monaco and Lee Keun-ho of Gamba Osaka, respectively put the result beyond doubt with headers in the second half.
The visitors tried to give new manager Luis Fernando Suarez a victory, but their efforts were to no avail against a rampant Korea.
The 29th ranked Asian team is preparing for World Cup qualification matches, and manager Cho Kwang-rae mentioned that today’s match was a last test to decide who would make the final squad.
Kim Bo-kyung, filling the shoes of former captain Park Ji-sung of Manchester United, covered enough ground effectively to catch Cho’s eye.
Sangju Sangmoo’s Kim Jung-woo, who has played in midfield for the national team but was pushed forward, leads the K-league with four goals and proved his value in his new position.
The Taeguk Warriors dominated the game, giving Bolton Wanderers midfielder Lee Chung-yong many chances in the box, but all of his efforts were denied or deflected by goal keeper Noel Valladares and his defenders.
The first goal came out of a chaotic situation in the box in the 28th minute.
Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-yueng’s corner kick landed in front of the net and amid the resultant melee, Lee Jung-soo’s left-foot shot found the back of the net to make it 1-0.
Compared to the first goal the second was a masterpiece in the 44th.
A give-and-go pass between Ki and Lee Chung-yong put Ki free in the right corner and his low cross reached Park whose touch on gave Kim a free chance just outside the box, which he buried inside the right post.
In the second half Lee Keun-ho and Ji Dong-won substituted for Kim Bo-kyung and Lee Chung-yong.
And while both sides encroached on each other’s territory, Ji’s looped cross from the left flank in the 82nd allowed Park to head the ball cleanly past the Honduran goalie.
In stoppage time Ki’s corner kick found Lee, who headed the ball in for the national team’s fourth and a comprehensive win.
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