Overcoming internal strife, the South Korean national football team declared a "one team" approach but exposed persistent defensive vulnerabilities, leading to a defeat against Saudi Arabia.
Under interim coach Roberto Moreno, South Korea lost 3-2 to Saudi Arabia in the first match of their November A-match series on November 13 at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
This defeat marked South Korea's first loss to Saudi Arabia in 21 years, since a 1-0 defeat in the final round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers in August 2005.
Notably, conceding three goals to Saudi Arabia was the first such occurrence since April 1984, when South Korea lost 5-4 in the final qualifiers for the Los Angeles Olympics.
Ranked 32nd by FIFA, South Korea fell to 55th-ranked Saudi Arabia, bringing their all-time record against them to 5 wins, 9 draws, and 6 losses.
Before the match, the primary focus was on whether the internal conflicts within the team had been resolved. Key players Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Hwang In-beom (Porto), and Hwang Hee-chan (Schalke), who were at the center of a recent retirement controversy surrounding the last A-match against Uzbekistan (a 2-0 victory), issued a joint statement with captain Son Heung-min (LAFC) and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) to reaffirm their unity.
Moreno deployed a 4-4-2 formation, placing Son Heung-min and Oh Hyun-kyu (Besiktas) at the forefront, with Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom, and Hwang Hee-chan all starting.
However, defensive disorganization ultimately hindered their performance. In stoppage time of the first half, South Korea's defense faltered, allowing Marwan Al-Sahafi to score the opening goal.
In the second half, just two minutes in, Oh Hyun-kyu equalized with a goal from a cross by Seol Young-woo (Augsburg), but the joy was short-lived.
In the 56th minute, South Korea lost possession in their defensive third, allowing Mohammed Kanno to score the go-ahead goal. Just three minutes later, they conceded a header from Abdulilah Al-Amri during a corner kick, falling behind 3-1.
South Korea's attacking unit also struggled with finishing. In the 66th minute, Son Heung-min seized a critical opportunity following a mistake by the opposing goalkeeper, but his shot sailed over the goal.
Moreno sought to change the momentum by substituting Lee Jae-sung and others in the second half. In the 69th minute, Hwang Hee-chan and Lee Jae-sung combined for a goal, with Hwang Hee-chan breaking down the left flank and setting up Lee Jae-sung for a composed finish.
South Korea launched an all-out attack in the remaining time but failed to find the equalizer, ultimately tasting the bitterness of a one-goal defeat.
Since Moreno took charge, the team has recorded 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses in five matches, showing no significant improvement in performance.
Moreno's squad will face Qatar in their final A-match of the year on November 17.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.