(LEAD) S. Korea held by Oman in World Cup qualifying match
(ATTN: ADDS details from para 6, photos)
By Yoo Jee-ho
GOYANG, South Korea, March 20 (Yonhap) — South Korea settled for a 1-1 draw against Oman in a World Cup qualifying match at home Thursday night, unable to overcome injuries to key players.
Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers scored for South Korea in the 41st minute of the teams’ Group B match in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualification at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, some 20 kilometers northwest of Seoul. Paris Saint-German midfielder Lee Kang-in, who replaced injured teammate Paik Seung-ho in the 38th minute, assisted on that goal with a sharp pass. But Lee himself was taken out of the match with an apparent ankle injury, suffered moments before Ali Al-Busaidi netted the equalizer for Oman in the 80th minute.
Hwang Hee-chan of South Korea celebrates after scoring a goal against Oman during the teams’ Group B match in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualification at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on March 20, 2025. (Yonhap)
South Korea, world No. 23, also played 80th-ranked Oman without Bayern Munich center back Kim Min-jae, who was dropped from the national team on Saturday due to a left Achilles tendinitis.
With three matches left, South Korea remain atop Group B tables with 15 points from four wins and three draws. They will next play Jordan at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, some 30 kilometers south of Seoul, on Tuesday.
South Korea have played at every World Cup since 1986.
Son Heung-min of South Korea collides with an Omani player during their teams’ Group B match in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualification at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on March 20, 2025. (Yonhap)
South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo made some changes to his usual starting lineup. Hwang In-beom of Feyenoord, a key midfielder who can contribute at both ends, didn’t even make the squad list due to a foot injury. Paik Seung-ho of Birmingham City slotted into Hwang’s usual spot.
Lee Kang-in, normally a starter, began the match on the bench, after getting limited minutes for his French club recently. The attacking midfield corps featured captain Son Heung-min, Lee Jae-sung and Hwang Hee-chan. Joo Min-kyu, currently leading the K League 1 with five goals in five matches for Daejeon Hana Citizen FC, started as striker.
On defense, Cho Yu-min, who had been effective as Kim Min-jae’s partner in recent matches, got the start alongside Kwon Kyung-won. Left back Lee Tae-seok earned his first international start.
South Korea generated nothing offensively in the early going, unable to connect on passes or penetrate the crowded Omani defense.
Lee Kang-in of South Korea (L) is grabbed by an Omani player during the teams’ Group B match in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualification at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on March 20, 2025. (Yonhap)
South Korea suffered another injury blow in the 35th minute when Paik went down with an apparent left hamstring problem. He walked off under his own power but with a slight limp, as Lee Kang-in replaced him.
Moments after the substitution, Oman caught South Korean players napping and Abdulrahman Al-Mushaifri had the match’s first shot attempt and also first shot on target in the 38th minute. Goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo — wearing a protective mask as he recovers from a broken nose — made the save and a potentially dangerous rebound was cleared out in a nervy moment for the home side.
Lee Kang-in, often South Korea’s best playmaker, made his presence felt there a minute later by threading a through ball between two defenders to find Hwang Hee-chan.
South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in is carried off by a team trainer after suffering a left ankle injury during the team’s Group B match in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualification against Oman at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on March 20, 2025. (Yonhap)
Hwang made no mistake with his left-footed shot that found the bottom right corner for his 16th international goal. Hwang had also scored against Oman in South Korea’s 3-1 victory in September last year.
Oh Se-hun took over from Joo as striker to start the second half, and he nearly made an immediate impact, with his 49th-minute header getting kicked aside by goalkeeper Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini.
But South Korea failed to turn their possession advantage into an insurance goal, and it bit them in the 80th minute.
In a chaotic scramble near the box, Lee turned his left ankle and fell to the ground in obvious pain. Referee Alireza Faghani let the play continue as South Korea turned the ball over in a clearing attempt, and Al-Busaidi danced around Lee’s body to fire a left-footed shot past Jo.
Lee left the stadium on the back of a team trainer, a big blow to a team that desperately needed his creativity on offense.
South Korean players react to a 1-1 draw against Oman in the teams’ Group B match in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualification at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on March 20, 2025. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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