'Counterattack, Free Kick and Positional Play' Produce a Three-Pronged Goal Explosion! Moreno's 4-4-2 Shows Promise of a Convincing Win over Ecuador

[Financial News] The South Korea national football team, led by head coach Roberto Moreno, made a fresh start while laying the foundation for a new tactical identity. Although it was too early to expect perfect cohesion in the team's first match, its compact spacing in a 4-4-2 formation and three distinct scoring routes pointed to a promising direction.
South Korea defeated Ecuador 3-0 in a friendly at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 24th, fueled by three consecutive second-half goals from Hyeon-gyu Oh, Son Heung-min and Lee Dong-gyeong.
The most noticeable aspect of Moreno's side was the spacing between its defensive and attacking lines. Unlike the previous national team, which primarily used a back three at the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America, Moreno opted for a 4-4-2 formation built around a back four. When defending, the team narrowed the distances from the forwards through the midfield to the defense, disrupting Ecuador's advance. In attack, it also maintained consistent distances between the back four and the midfield to preserve its overall balance.

The first half also exposed the transitional limitations of the new tactics. South Korea controlled the match with 55% possession but managed only four shots, including one on target. Its attacking play lacked fluency, and there were disappointing moments when the team was slow to transition defensively after allowing Ecuador to counterattack. Even taking into account the limited time to build chemistry after the squad was called up, this was clearly an area for improvement.
The complexion of the game changed 180 degrees after halftime. Moreno fine-tuned the players' positions and movements during pressing and buildup, which directly led to a faster attacking tempo in the second half.
The three second-half goals were encouraging because each came from a different pattern. Hyeon-gyu Oh's opening goal in the eighth minute resulted from buildup deep in the field involving Kim Min-jae and Song Min-kyu, followed by a quick advance. Five minutes later, Son Heung-min's additional goal came from a set-piece situation that maximized his individual ability. Lee Dong-gyeong's 41st-minute insurance goal broke through Ecuador's compact defense with short, accurate passing in a positional attack. South Korea created goals through a variety of routes rather than relying on a single attacking method.

The defense's clean sheet was another positive. The back-four line featuring Kim Min-jae and Lee Han-beom in central defense struggled at times with Ecuador's physicality and intense pressure in the first half, but it effectively controlled the opposition's attack after the break to complete the shutout.
After presenting the clear tactical themes of "pressing and spacing" in its opening match, Moreno's side will next face another South American powerhouse, Uruguay. The key question will be how much the team can improve, in a short period of time, the sluggish attacking buildup and defensive transition speed it showed in the first half.
Meanwhile, the national team squad will take overnight leave on the 25th before reconvening at the Paju National Football Center on the 26th to begin preparations for the match against Uruguay on the 28th.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter