'Son Heung-min falls short of scoring record' as Moreno's South Korea held to frustrating draw with Venezuela

[Financial News] South Korea, led by Robert Moreno, was held to a scoreless draw by South America's dark horse Venezuela after a frustrating performance. Captain Son Heung-min, who tied former national team coach Cha Bum-kun's record for the most goals by a Korean player in international matches with 58, will have to wait for another opportunity to set a new mark.

South Korea drew 0-0 with Venezuela in a friendly at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium on the 2nd. A one-sided attack was expected against Venezuela, ranked 48th in the FIFA rankings—16 places below South Korea's 32nd place—and with no experience of reaching the World Cup finals. The reality, however, was different.
Moreno deployed Son Heung-min and Hyeon-gyu Oh as a two-man forward line in a 4-4-2 formation. Kim Min-su and Lee Kang-in operated on the flanks, while Hwang In-beom and Park Jin-seob took charge of midfield. South Korea was outplayed in the fierce midfield battle and struggled badly with its passing. Trailing while ceding possession, South Korea suffered from an extreme lack of attacking chances, with Cho Hyun-taek recording its first shot only in the 45th minute.

The flow of the game did not change easily in the second half. Instead, Venezuela's attack grew more threatening, with the visitors frustrated by saves from goalkeeper Song Bum-keun and the woodwork. Venezuela remained lively throughout both halves and dominated South Korea 12-7 in shots.
Moreno actively used his substitutes from the middle of the second half onward and tried tactical changes, including switching from a back four to a back five. However, the team's cohesion wavered, creating only a disorderly atmosphere.
■ Son Heung-min silenced as record bid falls short... Kim Min-jae vents frustration from the bench
Son Heung-min, the player who had drawn the most attention, also failed to find the net. After scoring in consecutive matches and showcasing his sharp finishing touch, Son was closely marked throughout the game and managed just one shot on target, six minutes into the second half.

The defense's determined efforts also went unrewarded. Kim Min-jae anchored the back line and put in a tenacious defensive performance, but after being substituted in the 35th minute of the second half, he spoke with Moreno with a stern expression. He was then caught on the broadcast throwing his soccer boots while seated on the bench, visibly expressing strong frustration and leaving a disappointing impression.
Interim coach Robert Moreno, who took charge last month, has gone winless in two consecutive matches following a 3-0 victory over Ecuador in his debut and a 1-4 loss to Uruguay. South Korea will play its final match of this four-game international series against Uzbekistan at 8 a.m. on the 6th at Yongin Mireu Stadium.
[email protected] Park Ji-hyun Reporter