Korea ratings vs Iraq
Final Warm-up Friendly before the Asian Cup - Player Ratings
South Korea got a one-nil deserved win over potential last-16 opponents Iraq on the 6th at the New York University Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Both sides rested a number of key players for the kick off, but the game was competitive, sometimes overly so. Iraq started brightly when Iraq bypassed the Korean press and put Ibraheem Bayesh in; the Iraq number 8 should have scored but Kim Seung-gyu stood up well to save before seeing to the ricohet as well. Korea slowly grew in confidence and started creating good chances. Oh Hyun-gyu had the ball in the net but the ref blew up for a soft foul in the build-up. Just before half-time Korea scored the only goal of the game through a superb strike from the edge of the box from Lee Jae-sung after good work down the right from Seol Young-woo. Korea almost conceded straight away through an almost identical chance to the earlier Iraq one-on-one this time put wide.
In the second half the big guns were put on at half-time with Son Heung-min, Hwang Hee-chan, Kim Min-jae, Cho Gue-sung and Lee Kang-in all summoned from the bench. Defending from the front was noticeably improved and the tempo of the Korean possession faster as you might expect. This made it difficult for Iraq to get forward and meant Korea controlled much of the half. Korea couldn’t add to their lead although they created good chances with Son twice rounding Iraq’s captain and goalie Jalal Hachim. Firstly, Son went down claiming a penalty waved away by the ref and the second time set up Hwang Hee-chan with an open goal but the shot was blocked. The game petered out slightly towards the end after Lee Kang-in got a second yellow after a flare up with Iraq left back Ahmed Al-Hajjaj.
Player Ratings
GK Kim Seung-gyu - 8
An important save at the beginning of the game helped preserve the team’s seventh clean sheet in a row. His keeping one-on-one was impressive even with the second through-on-goal chance for Iraq; deserving credit for making Ali Jasim shoot wide
RB Seol Young-woo - 7
Provided good width to the right side with Lee Jae-sung cutting inside. His involvement in the goal was his second assist in eight games for his country. A somewhat rash clearance at the start of the game almost deflected into his own goal but other than that was solid defensively - utilising his recovery pace to good effect
CB Jung Seung-hyun - 4
Looked like the month off since his last game had had an effect and subbed off at half-time. Outpaced in the early minutes although exposed by an absent midfield and then once more after Korea had just gone one up - had his goalkeeper to thank for the clean sheet. Didn’t display much of his aggression that had won him the place in the first place.
CB Kim Young-gwon - 7
Captain for the first half and his performance looks to have won him back his starting berth alongside Kim Min-jae. Good on the ball and effective when recovering position when Iraq countered down the right in the second half.
LB Lee Ki-je - 8
For someone who hasn’t played since the previous international in November putting in a shift for 90 minutes was impressive. Equally impressive was some of his crossing; creating the most chances in the game, but we know going forward what he can do.
RM Lee Jae-sung -8
For the first time his place in the starting Xi is under threat you would say with Lee Kang-in’s talent demanding a start. The 31-year-old put in an excellent display and gives Klinsmann a selection headache. Starting off on the left of midfield, a tactical switch to the right paid dividends with a superb goal from the edge of the box. 95% pass completion to boot.
CM Hwang In-beom - 7
Controlled the tempo better in the first half and full range of passing on display with 7 passes into the final third. Flexibly positioned going forward and integral in linking the play.
CM Park Yong-woo - 6
Has a tough job as the number 6 in a team that presses from the front. Twice dribbled past and only won 1 of 7 duels means it’s still a position that Korea are weak at. He was quite ambitious on the ball, some notable passing errors but on the whole did well as part of build-up play
LM Jeong Woo-young - 6
The switch to the left side saw Jeong more involved. He had a good chance from a header created by Seol Young-woo that he probably should’ve scored from but a solid performance and a good option off the bench.
CF Hong Hyun-seok - 5
Not too involved with only 19 touches, the second fewest, and Korea mostly attacking from wide areas in the first half. A half-time substitute was to be expected but Hong is one for the future as he continues to develop - good to see him get a start here.
CF Oh Hyun-gyu - 6
Thrusted into the role as main backup to Cho Gue-sung following Hwang Eui-jo’s indefinite suspension from the national team, Oh showed good movement and although he had the fewest touches, Oh was heavily involved in the chances in the first half. Oh had a goal ruled out for a soft ‘friendly-game’ foul in the build-up. He also was presented with a very good chance when Lee Ki-je put in an excellent cross that Oh chose to volley first time, which unfortunately was straight at the keeper. Can fill that role as a backup but needs to be more clinical and make better decisions in the final third.
Subs
Son Heung-min - 7
Coming on at half-time - Son was the line breaker in the second half; twice getting behind and rounding the Iraqi goalkeeper. Played deeper after the Lee Kang-in sending off.
Cho Gue-sung - 6
Pressed well and was full of running as usual. Link up play was noticeably more solid than Oh who was guilty of giving the ball away a few times. Will want to have that unchallenged header from the corner back though. Came on at half time
Hwang Hee-chan - 7
Took a bit of time to get involved after in the game after coming on at the half, but was soon at his dribbling best out on the left and getting into the supportive striker role that he’s been doing at Wolves this year. Unlucky not to turn home Son’s cutback.
Lee Kang-in - 5
Not afraid to get stuck in but on this occasion got too involved and was sent off for two yellows. The first came from frustration after losing the ball moments earlier and the second was unlucky after the ref choose to book both players after an altercation. Still displayed that superb vision when putting Son through on goal. Came on at half-time
Kim Min-jae - 7
Clear improvement in the defence when the recently crowned KFA player of year came on at half-time. Kim sniffed out all the danger in the box and looked comfortable doing so.
Kim Tae-hwan - 5
Came on halfway through the second half and did well aggressively winning the ball a number of times. A late misplaced pass in his own half was almost costly though.