Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Salzburg: Korea Republic crashed to a 6-1 friendly defeat to Spain in an international friendly on Wednesday, as the Tauguek Warriors’ nine-game winning streak came to an end with their worst defeat in 15 years.
Uli Stielike’s side went into Wednesday’s fixture, the first against a European side since the German took charge of the side in 2014, having not tasted defeat since losing to hosts Australia in the final of the AFC Asian Cup back in January last year.
But a Spain side devoid of their contingent from UEFA Champions League finalists Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, outclassed the East Asians, who had kept the 2010 FIFA World Cup winners at bay until David Silva broke the deadlock at the Red Bull Arena on the half-hour mark, with the Manchester City midfielder’s 25-yard free kick ending the South Koreans record of ten successive shutouts.
Spain went 2-0 up two minutes later after keeper Kim Jin-hyeon fumbled defender Jang Hyun-soo’s headed back pass allowing Cesc Fabregas a simple tap in before the midfielder’s Chelsea team-mate Cesar Azpilicueta set up Nolito (pictured left) for the third seven minutes from the interval.
It was 4-0 five minutes into the second half after Alvaro Morata headed home Thiago Alcantara’s corner and just four minutes later it was five, as Nolito notched his second of the match after Hector Bellerin provided the assist for the Celta Vigo striker.
Second-half substitute Ju Se-jong, as 61st minute replacement for Qatar-based midfielder Han Kook-young, reduced the deficit in the 83rd minute only for Spain to restore their five-goal cushion six minutes after the FC Seoul forward with his first international goal through Morata’s second of the night.
The Juventus striker’s goal completed the scoring as Korea Republic conceded six goals for the first time since going down 6-2 to Iran in the the quarter-finals of the 1996 AFC Asian Cup, with the 6-1 defeat to the Spanish their biggest winning margin since suffering 5-0 defeats to France and the Czech Republic in 2001.
Ironically, the South Koreans are next in action against the Czechs as Stielike’s side continue preparations for the next phase of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with a friendly in Prague on Sunday.
Korea Republic resume their qualifying campaign on September 1 when they host China, who are looking to take part in the finals for only a second time following their debut at Korea-Japan 2002, before the Taeguek Warriors take on Syria five days later.
In addition to China and Syria, the South Koreans have been drawn in Group A alongside three-time Asian champions Iran, 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts Qatar, and Uzbekistan, who Korea Republic defeated 2-0 in the quarter-finals of last year’s AFC Asian Cup.
The winner and runner-up of Groups A and B will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia finals while the third-placed teams of each group will advance to the Asian Play-off Round, with the victorious side taking on the team that finishes fourth in the fifth round of the CONCACAF qualifiers in a two-legged inter-confederation play-off.
Photo: AFP