“First Time Losing After Conceding 3 Goals in 42 Years”... South Korea’s Soccer Team, Which Even Issued a Statement in an Attempt to “Patch Things Up,” Suffers Shock Defeat to Saudi Arabia

[Financial News] The Taeguk Warriors even drew up a “joint statement” to mend their internal rift and pledged to join forces, but the result was a bitter shock defeat. Moreno’s side fell apart in its first match of a two-game away series in the Middle East, losing to Saudi Arabia after conceding three goals for the first time in 42 years.
On the 14th, South Korea’s national football team, coached by Robert Moreno, lost 2-3 to Saudi Arabia in a friendly at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar. It was South Korea’s first defeat to Saudi Arabia in 21 years, since a 0-1 loss on August 16, 2005, in the final qualifying round for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
The last time South Korea lost after conceding three or more goals was even further back—42 years ago. Since losing 4-5 to Saudi Arabia in the final qualifying round for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, South Korea had not conceded three or more goals.
Saudi Arabia is ranked 55th by FIFA, 23 places below South Korea (32nd). Among AFC member countries, South Korea has the fourth-highest ranking and Saudi Arabia the fifth-highest. As a result of this match, South Korea now trails Saudi Arabia in their all-time head-to-head record, with five wins, nine draws and six losses.
The starting lineup included all of the national team’s key players, including captain Son Heung-min (LAFC) and the “’96 Line”—Hwang Hee-chan (Schalke), Hwang In-beom (Porto) and Kim Min-jae (Munich)—who had been at odds with him. The ’96 Line players had previously raised concerns about Son’s leadership and staged a “retirement controversy” in the Uzbekistan match, the final game of the friendlies in September and October.
After the discord among the national team players became controversial, they issued a joint statement during this camp, saying they intended to join forces again. But their performance that day left much to be desired. Son wore the captain’s armband and played the full 90 minutes but remained quiet, while Hwang In-beom and Kim Min-jae were also unable to prevent the defeat to Saudi Arabia. Lee Jae-sung came on as a substitute and, with an assist from Hwang Hee-chan, scored a goal to pull South Korea within 2-3. But no equalizer followed, and the match ended in a South Korean defeat.
Meanwhile, Moreno has recorded two wins, one draw and two losses in five matches as South Korea’s coach. His contract expires at the end of this month, and whether it will be extended will be decided after an assessment of six matches in total, including the four-match run of A internationals in September and October and this two-game series.
[email protected] Kim Hee-sun Reporter