Korea concede late equalizer in disappointing 1-1 draw with El Salvador

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Korea concede late equalizer in disappointing 1-1 draw with El Salvador

Published: 21 Jun. 2023, 08:48 Updated: 21 Jun. 2023, 17:26

Korea's Hwang Ui-jo, left, shoots during a friendly against El Salvador at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in Daejeon on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

Korea threw away a one-goal lead to draw 1-1 with El Salvador on Tuesday at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in Daejeon, leaving struggling manager Jurgen Klinsmann’s now four games in to his Korea career without a single win.

Klinsmann made some changes to the starting XI from the Peru match on Friday, choosing Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors forward Cho Gue-sung over Celtic forward Oh Hyeon-gyu.

He also replaced both full-backs from Friday’s game — Lee Ki-je and Ahn Hyun-beom — with Jeonbuk defender Kim Jin-su and Ulsan Hyundai defender Seol Young-woo.

Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu was the captain in lieu of regular captain Son Heung-min, who missed Friday’s game and started Tuesday’s match from the bench after undergoing hernia surgery two weeks ago.

Korea held on to the ball in the early minutes longer than they did in the previous game, creating a few threatening moments for El Salvador.

Lee Kang-in, who shone against Peru, was once again the key player behind those moments.

Lee attempted to break through the defense with agile movements and even managed multiple shots himself, but none of his efforts found the back of the net.

Korea continued to possess the ball during the first half, but failed to get on the scoresheet.

Klinsmann reinforced the team’s attack by substituting in forward Hwang Ui-jo for midfielder Lee Jae-sung in the beginning of the second half.

That change proved to be an immediate success with Hwang scoring a goal in the 49th minute. That goal, his first for Korea since a friendly against Egypt in June last year, offered a glimpse of the old Hwang, Korea's top striker for years before he started to struggle last year.

Son and Oh then both came on in the 70th minute, but failed to find a second goal.

Korea instead conceded an equalizer to Alex Roldan in the 87th minute. That goal made all the difference, as Korea squandered their last chance at a winner from a free kick in injury to end the game at 1-1.

This is Klinsmann’s second draw with the national team. He drew his first game 2-2 against Colombia and lost 2-1 against Uruguay in March, before losing 1-0 against Peru last week.

Tuesday’s match wraps up Korea’s two friendlies in June.

The Taeguk Warriors will be back in action in September when they play their first away game under Klinsmann against Wales in Cardiff.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]