Son Heung-min scored one goal and set up another to spark South Korea’s 2-0 victory over the US in an international soccer friendly on Saturday.
The matchup between two clubs bound for the FIFA World Cup world cup next year was played at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey — the home stadium of MLS’ New York Red Bulls.
The South Koreans advanced through Asian qualifying to next year’s World Cup, to be cohosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
Photo: AP
Son scored in the 18th minute and Lee Dong-gyeong added another in the 43rd to secure South Korea’s triumph against a US side coached by Mauricio Pochettino — Son’s former coach at Tottenham Hotspur.
Son joined Los Angeles FC in a blockbuster move last month that has energized Korean soccer fans in the US.
They were out in force, prompting South Korea manager Hong Myung-bo to say the fixture was “like a home match.”
South Korea improved to 4-2 with two draws in the all-time rivalry against the US men, winning their first meeting since a US home triumph in 2014.
The US, coming off a 2-1 loss to Mexico in July’s CONCACAF Gold Cup final, welcomed back Christian Pulisic.
However, it was another dispiriting setback for a team that has failed to gain momentum with the World Cup looming.
“It’s a team that’s coming together,” US midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said. “For us it’s about keep going and keep building that team chemistry,” he said.
Son opened the scoring in the 18th minute, staying just onside and taking a pass from Lee Jae-sung, then rushing to the goal and firing a left-footed blast from a tough angle past US goalkeeper Matt Freese into the far right side of the net.
South Korea doubled the lead in the 43rd minute when Son worked a give-and-go play, took the return pass in the heart of the penalty area, then quickly flicked the ball to Lee Dong-gyeong, who back-heeled the ball with his left foot into the goal to give the visitors a 2-0 edge at halftime.
“They are a good team that’s playing really well together,” Berhalter said. “They know each other really well and they have quality. If you make little mistakes, they are going to punish you.”
Son was replaced by Oh Hyeon-gyu in the 63rd minute as both sides made multiple lineup changes.
Jo Hyeon-woo saved a close-range shot by Richards and denied Folarin Balogun in the fourth minute of stoppage time to preserve the clean sheet.
“We were better than South Korea, but if we don’t finish the plays, it’s complicated,” Pochettino said. “We created chances, controlled the game, but conceded goals in ways that shouldn’t have happened.”
Ream stressed bonding and teamwork.
“We just need to continue to gel and to build,” Ream said. “We have to work on everything. We have to keep going... raise the standard and work on things for the next game.”
That would come against Japan in Columbus, Ohio, tomorrow, while Mexico would take on South Korea in Nashville, Tennessee.
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