Struggled in the First Half, Fought Back in the Second... Moreno's Squad Held to a 0-0 Draw with Venezuela

Son Heungmin and Oh Hyungyu Lead the Attack Duo
Only One First-Half Shot Amid Hard-Fought Struggle

Song Bumkeun’s Crucial Saves Keep South Korea in the Game
Neither Side Manages to Score in the End

Head coach Roberto Moreno's third friendly match since taking charge of the South Korean national football team ended in a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Venezuela.

The South Korean national team played to a 0-0 draw in a friendly match against Venezuela hosted by Hana Bank, held at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan on October 2. While the team was overwhelmingly outplayed in the first half, they managed to avoid conceding a goal, and successfully shifted the momentum in the second half in a fiercely contested match. However, neither side managed to score in the end.

Coach Moreno again utilized the 4-4-2 formation, as he had in the earlier matches against Ecuador and Uruguay.

Son Heungmin and Oh Hyungyu formed the attacking duo up front, with Kim Minsu, Hwang Inbeom, Park Jinseop, and Lee Kangin in the midfield. The back four consisted of Cho Hyuntaek, Kim Minjae, Lee Hanbeom, and Seol Youngwoo, while Song Bumkeun guarded the net. Hwang Inbeom, who was sidelined by injury and missed the previous matches against Ecuador and Uruguay, made his first appearance under coach Moreno.

On the 2nd at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, a friendly match between the South Korean and Venezuelan national football teams was held. After the match ended in a draw, South Korean coach Moreno is leaving the stadium. Photo by Yonhap News.

During the first half, South Korea rarely managed to get the ball into Venezuelan territory. Venezuela, pressing high up the pitch, maintained possession and repeatedly threatened South Korea’s goal throughout the half.

In the 11th minute, Venezuela created the first clear scoring opportunity. From a free kick just outside the left side of the penalty area, Cristian Cásseres fired a direct right-footed shot on goal, but Song Bumkeun made a diving save.

Venezuela threatened again in the 23rd minute with a set piece. Gleiker Mendoza took a free kick near the left edge of the penalty area and went for goal directly, but his shot went wide of the post.

South Korea, which had not recorded a single shot by that point, finally had a decisive chance right before halftime. Seol Youngwoo delivered a cross from the right wing, which deflected off a Venezuelan defender’s head and landed on the opposite side for Cho Hyuntaek. Cho controlled the ball with his chest and attempted a left-footed shot, but the ball grazed a defender’s foot and missed the target.

From the ensuing corner kick, Oh Hyungyu battled the opposing goalkeeper right in front of the goal line, knocked the ball down, and pushed it over the line, but the referee ruled it as goalkeeper interference and the goal was disallowed.

Early in the second half, with no substitutions made, South Korea’s attack showed more liveliness. In the 51st minute, Oh Hyungyu sent in a sharp low cross from the right, and Son Heungmin, darting into the penalty box, redirected the ball to register South Korea’s first shot on target. However, the attempt went straight at the goalkeeper. Soon after, Son passed to Cho Hyuntaek outside the penalty area, but Cho’s left-footed mid-range shot was blocked by the Venezuelan defense.

On the 2nd, a football international friendly match between South Korea and Venezuela was held at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium. Son Heung-min's shot was blocked by the Venezuelan defenders. Photo by Yonhap News.

In the middle of the second half, Venezuela regained control of the attack. In the 60th minute, Jesús Ramírez met a cross from Yangel Herrera with a powerful header, but Song Bumkeun produced another diving save to deny the attempt.

In the 72nd minute, Theo Quintero unleashed a powerful shot that Song Bumkeun parried, but the ball rebounded directly to Quintero. With Song still on the ground, Quintero fired again and found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

In the closing stages, South Korea pushed forward once more. In the 80th minute, Lee Kangin attempted a right-footed shot inside the penalty box, but it sailed over the crossbar. In stoppage time, Jeong Seungwon made a subtle touch that Lee Donggyeong latched onto for another shot on target, but the Venezuelan goalkeeper made a crucial save.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.