Paulo Bento's Korean National Team resumed their World Cup Qualification in tantalising style with a 5-0 thumping of Turkmenistan. Six K League-based players saw game time in Goyang as the Taeguk Warriors consolidated their position at the summit of Group H. With Sri Lanka and Lebanon to play this week, can Korea pip Lebanon to gain certain progression to the next phase?
Turkmenistan Triumph
After a fiercely-contested 2-0 victory in Ashgabat in the return fixture, many expected another tight affair on home soil as Röwşen Muhadow's side came to play as a national team outfit together for the first time since November 2019. Hwang Ui-jo was the star of the show as the ex-Seongnam striker showed his class with a brace to open and conclude the scoring. Kwon Chang-hoon, who recently secured a return to the Big Bird under Park Kun-ha, made things comfortable for the hosts after Nam Tae-hee and Kim Young-gwon had put Korea into a commanding position either side of half time.
Jostling for first-choice left back status, Suwon Samsung Bluewing's in-form defender Lee Ki-je replaced the experienced Hong Chul to claim his first cap. South Korea's longest-reigning manager Paulo Bento will be pleased to have two reliable options at left back, also giving former Busan IPark defender Kim Moon-hwan a start ahead of Lee Yong at right back. Korea recorded 26 shots, their most since the 8-0 victory over Sri Lanka in October 2019, with 15 hitting the target. In comparison to their performance in Ashgabat, they saw improvements in crossing accuracy (22% to 42%), shots on target (5 to 15) and passing accuracy (89% to 91%).
Fixtures
Sri Lanka (WCQ) - Wednesday 9th June 20:00
Lebanon (WCQ) - Sunday 13th June 15:00
K League-based Players
Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan Hyundai) - 17 caps
Gu Sung-yun (Gimcheon Sangmu) - 4 caps
Lee Yong (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors) - 46 caps
Hong Chul (Ulsan Hyundai) - 32 caps
Kim Tae-hwan (Ulsan Hyundai) - 11 caps
Park Ji-soo (Suwon FC) - 5 caps
Kim Young-bin (Gangwon FC) - 0 caps
Lee Ki-je (Suwon Bluewings) - 1 cap
Kang Sang-woo (Pohang Steelers) - 0 caps
Won Du-jae (Ulsan Hyundai) - 4 caps
Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan Hyundai) - 3 caps
Song Min-kyu (Pohang Steelers) - 0 caps
Jung Sang-bin (Suwon Bluewings) - 0 caps
Sri Lanka on Wednesday
Those fans who decided to take in the decisive match-up between the other two sides in Group H on Saturday were provided with great entertainment as second-placed Lebanon eventually defeated Sri Lanka in a five-goal thriller. Ahmed Razeek, who plies his trade in Germany, had put Sri Lanka into the lead after 10 minutes before Lebanon roared into life and went into the break 3-1 up. In an end-to-end encounter, Razeek scored a second from the spot but could not find a hat-trick to level the scores despite seeing a free-kick tipped onto the post.
In what will be Sri Lanka's final game in a group they are destined to finish bottom, Bento could hand debut call-ups to four in-form K League players who have no doubt impressed the Portuguese boss with their abilities. Song Min-kyu and Kang Sang-woo link up well on the left at Pohang Steelers, while Jung Sang-bin has been one of the league's star performers of late at just 19-years-old. With a Group deciding fixture to come against Lebanon on Sunday, Gangwon FC's Kim Young-bin may hope to be given the task of controlling the lively Razeek while Ulsan Hyundai's Jo Hyeon-woo may replace Kim Seung-gyu in goal.
Asnawi helps Indonesia
Under the leadership of former Korean National Team boss Shin Tae-yong, Asnawi Mangkualam played 90 minutes as Indonesia earned their first point in Group G of World Cup Qualifying. Having lost comfortably to Thailand in the return fixture, the 2-2 draw in Dubai earned by Evan Dimas' equailser proves that the Ansan Greeners star is part of improvement under Shin.
While Asnawi's side will not be able to reach the World Cup itself, they could have a big say in who progresses from Group G with the current top two Vietnam and UAE to play this week, with both currently separated by just two points.
Peter Hampshire
K League United Assistant Editor
