QATAR AL-RAYAN — Paris Saint-Germain winger Lee Kang-in is used to living in Kylian Mbappé’s shadow at club level. Son Heung-min continues to be a symbol of the Korean national team.
But Lee, who had two individual moments of brilliance against Bahrain on Monday, took center stage at the Asia Cup. He didn’t look comfortable in the spotlight after scoring twice in the second half to lead South Korea to a 3-1 victory in the Group E match.
“It’s not just about my two goals. All the goals we score are very important for the team. I just want to emphasize that it’s not about individual performance,” the modest Lee said afterwards. Told.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann was also modest in his praise for the forward.
“If he scored two goals for us in the opening game of the Asia Cup, he deserves man of the match and (it was) a very good performance. But I have to keep him on the ground every day. “No,” he said with a smile.
It feels like Lee is in no danger of success. And as the media swarmed after the post-match press conference, he was no doubt pleased to see that it was former World Cup-winning Germany striker Klinsmann who was inundated with requests for selfies.
Lee was just about to return to the locker room at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.
Earlier, he scored two picturesque goals to give South Korea a winning start in the tournament, which they have not won since back-to-back victories in 1956 and 1960.
When he took control, the game was tied at 1-1, and in the 56th minute, his left-footed shot from about 30 yards (meters) gave South Korea a 2-1 lead.
He was equally clinical when he scored his second goal 12 minutes later, using some sharp footwork to slot the ball into the bottom corner.
Both teams missed chances, allowing South Korea to take the lead with a goal from Hwang In-beom in the 38th minute of the first half, but Bahrain equalized six minutes later with a goal from Abdullah Al Hasash.
“We knew it wouldn’t be easy to play against Bahrain today, but it turned out to be a disastrous game,” Klinsmann said. “We’re very happy to start the tournament with three points. That’s what’s really important.”
jordan reed
Jordan defeated Malaysia 4-0 and are now at the top of Group E on goal difference.
Mahmoud Al Mardi and Moussa Tamari each scored two goals in the match played at Al Janoub Stadium.
Jordan took a 3-0 lead at the half with goals from Al Mardi in the 12th and 32nd minutes and a penalty by Tamari in the 18th minute.
Tamari also scored a goal in the first half that was canceled by VAR, but he scored his second goal in the 85th minute.
Jordan will take on South Korea on Saturday when Bahrain plays Malaysia.
Iraq victory
Iraq defeated Indonesia 3-1, gaining three points and joining Japan at the top of Group D.
Goals from Mohanad Ali, Osama Rashid and Aymen Hussein secured victory at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, with Marcelino Ferdinan scoring for Indonesia.
Japan, the favorites to win the tournament, defeated Vietnam 4-2 and lead the group in terms of points scored.
Indonesia, playing in their first Asian Cup in 16 years, almost took the lead when Ferdinan hit the bar.
Ali put Iraq ahead with a goal in the 17th minute, but Ferdinan equalized in the 37th minute by converting Erkan Baggot’s cross.
Iraq regained the lead with Rashid’s goal in the 7th minute of first-half stoppage time, and substitute Hussein added a third goal in the 75th minute.
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James Robson is https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson