Written by Yoo Ji-ho
SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) — In the end, Korean talent made the difference.
South Korea defeated Bahrain 3-1 in the first match of Group E of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in Qatar on Monday, but the game looked dangerous at one point in the second half.
One of Korea’s biggest stars was appointed there.
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in scored the winning goal in the 56th minute with a now-patented left-footed shot from just outside the box. This happened just five minutes after Bahrain equalized with a goal from Abdullah Al Hasash.
Ten minutes later, Lee made it 3-1 with a left-footed shot, evading a defender and creating space on the right side of the box before slotting the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal.
Throughout the match, Lee displayed excellent attacking skills and became one of PSG’s top players last summer. He almost scored a memorable goal with captain Son Heung-min in the closing stages, but the Tottenham Hotspur keeper received a delicious through ball from Lee before firing a right-footed shot just wide of the target.
Although Lee was more of a playmaker than a natural goalscorer, the 22-year-old became one of South Korea’s most dangerous and unlikely goal threats. He has scored six goals in his past six international matches, the most of any other South Korean player during the same period.
If South Korea aims to win its first Asian Cup since 1960, it will need more of the same ability from Lee and the rest of the European-based attacking team.
As expected, Bahrain established a strong defensive posture as the underdog in this match. Against such a tenacious and physical defense, South Korea was unable to develop an attack. Bodies flew left and right, but it was South Korea who immediately received two yellow cards for trying to thwart Bahrain’s counterattack.
Crvena Zvezda midfielder Hwang In-beom brought Korea on in the 38th minute, and his teammate from Europe, Mainz 05 midfielder Lee Jae-sung, set up a cross from the left side. Lee Kang-in’s free kick just before the end of the first half went just over the goal.
South Korea’s reliance on its top dogs is nothing new. Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has seen most of his top players perform at a high level in their respective leagues just before the big AFC tournament. Few other teams in this competition can make that claim.
The drop in talent level among reserve players is less important, so it will be essential for South Korea’s star players to stay healthy and continue to play. On that point, the absence of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Hwang Hee-chan, who has already achieved a career-high 10 goals in the Premier League due to a left hip injury, could be a pain for South Korea in the long run. be.
It was also not ideal for South Korea that five different players received yellow cards. Especially when it includes the team’s best defender, Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae and captain Son.
South Korea’s next match will be against Jordan on Saturday.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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