 |
| Kim Jin-gyu of South Korea (C) attempts a pass against Iceland in the teams' friendly football match at Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya. (Photo from KFA) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] SEOUL: South Korea overwhelmed Iceland in a resounding 5-1 victory in their men's football friendly match in Turkey on Saturday, flexing their attacking muscle in the first of two tune-up games ahead of World Cup qualifiers. Four players scored their first international goals at Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey, where South Korea set up a training camp a week ago.
Forward Cho Gue-sung opened the scoring in the 15th minute with his first career goal for South Korea. Veteran midfielder Kwon Chang-hoon doubled the lead in the 27th minute, about two minutes after getting denied on a penalty by goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson. Midfielder Paik Seung-ho joined the party with his first international marker, finding the top right corner from outside the penalty arc. South Korea held Iceland without a shot attempt in the first half. Iceland got a goal back just nine minutes in the second half, with forward Sveinn Aron Gudjohnsen scoring off his own rebound in the box while catching the defense napping.
In the 73rd minute, Kim Jin-gyu, a 24-year-old midfielder making his senior international debut, restored a three-goal lead for South Korea with some great individual effort. He first set up Lee Dong-gyeong with a deft feed inside the box.
