"Three Goals Conceded Against Saudi Arabia for First Time in 42 Years": Moreno's South Korea Lose 2-3

South Korea Failed to Complete Comeback Despite Equalizer from Oh Hyeon-gyu and Goal from Lee Jae-sung to Pull One Back

South Korea conceded three goals to Saudi Arabia, suffering its second defeat under head coach Robert Moreno. It was the first time in 42 years that South Korea had conceded three or more goals against Saudi Arabia.

South Korea, led by Moreno, lost 2-3 to Saudi Arabia in a friendly at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on the 13th (Korea time). After trailing 0-1 at halftime, South Korea equalized just two minutes into the second half with a goal from Oh Hyeon-gyu. However, it conceded twice in quick succession in the 11th and 14th minutes of the second half, surrendering the advantage. Lee Jae-sung pulled one back in the 23rd minute, but South Korea ultimately suffered a one-goal defeat.

South Korea had not conceded three or more goals against Saudi Arabia in 42 years, since losing 4-5 in the final qualifying round for the Los Angeles Olympics in April 1984. Moreno has recorded two wins, one draw and two losses in five matches since taking charge.

Moreno deployed a 4-4-2 formation. Son Heung-min and Oh Hyeon-gyu partnered up front, with Hwang Hee-chan and Lee Kang-in positioned on the left and right wings. Hwang In-beom and Park Jin-seop held the midfield, while Kim Min-jae and Lee Han-beom formed the central defense.

South Korean national team players Son Heung-min (left) and Kim Min-jae encourage each other after their friendly against Saudi Arabia at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on the 13th (local time). Yonhap News

South Korea opened the attack in the fourth minute when Hwang In-beom received a pass from Son Heung-min and fired a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area. Son had a clear chance in the 20th minute. After receiving a pass from Hwang Hee-chan, Son attempted a left-footed shot from the center of the penalty area. The ball narrowly missed the right side of the goal, however, and did not result in a score.

In the middle of the first half, South Korea allowed long-range shots from Saudi Arabia's Marwan Al-Sahafi and Nasser Al-Dawsari, among others, but goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu made saves to keep the match evenly balanced.

In the 45th minute, Lee Kang-in received a pass from Seol Young-woo and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais dived to push it away.

South Korea conceded the opening goal immediately after Lee Kang-in's threatening shot. In first-half stoppage time, Al-Sahafi received a pass from Abdullah Al-Hamdan and fired a right-footed shot from a tight angle on the right side of the penalty area, finding the back of the net.

South Korea drew level right after the second half began. In the second minute, Oh Hyeon-gyu met Seol Young-woo's cross inside the penalty area with a first-time right-footed shot, sending the ball into the Saudi Arabia net.

South Korea's Oh Hyeon-gyu celebrates after scoring the equalizer in a friendly against Saudi Arabia at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on the 13th local time. Yonhap News

But the joy of equalizing did not last long. South Korea soon handed control back to Saudi Arabia and conceded again less than 10 minutes later. In the 11th minute, Mohammed Kanno received a pass from Saud Abdulhamid and sent a right-footed shot from the center of the penalty area into the bottom-right corner.

Three minutes later, South Korea exposed a weakness in its set-piece defense and conceded once again. From a Saudi Arabia corner, Nasser Al-Dawsari delivered a cross that Abdulelah Al-Amri headed in from close to the left side of the goal. South Korea conceded twice in just three minutes and fell behind 1-3.

In the 18th minute, Lee Kang-in tried a left-footed shot from near the penalty arc, but the opposing goalkeeper saved it. In the 21st minute, an error by the opposing defense gave Son Heung-min a clear chance directly in front of goal inside the penalty area, but his shot was overhit and sailed over the crossbar.

South Korean national team players look disappointed after losing 3-2 to Saudi Arabia in a friendly at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on the 13th local time. Yonhap News

In the 21st minute, South Korea brought on Lee Jae-sung, Oh Se-hun, Kim Ji-soo and Choi Jun all at once in an effort to change the momentum. The substitutions had an immediate impact. In the 23rd minute, Lee Jae-sung finished off Hwang Hee-chan's pass into the penalty area with a left-footed shot from close to the left side of the goal, making it 2-3.

South Korea mounted wave after wave of attacks in the closing minutes, threatening the opposing goal several times. In the 34th minute, Lee Kang-in attempted a left-footed shot inside the penalty area, but the opposing goalkeeper saved it.

South Korea continued to create chances to equalize in stoppage time. Oh Se-hun headed a sharp cross from Lee Kang-in on the right, but the ball narrowly cleared the crossbar. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Lee Jae-sung headed a cross from Lee Myung-jae wide of the right side of the goal, and Eom Ji-sung's consecutive shots were blocked by the opposing defense, leaving South Korea unable to equalize.

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