Korea Republic had been frustrated in their opening game at Seoul World Cup Stadium with Hong’s side booed off at the end of a 0-0 draw against Palestine, but a much-changed team made a more positive start in Muscat.

Hwang was one of five new faces called into the starting line-up for the second game and the Wolverhampton Wanderers man justified his inclusion in the 10th minute when he gave his side the lead.

Son fed his fellow forward from the left side of the field and Hwang strode forward to unleash an unstoppable right-foot strike into the bottom corner of Ibrahim Al Mukhaini’s goal.

Al Mukhaini had already kept out a rasping Lee Kang-in effort and, 10 minutes after Hwang’s opener, he palmed Lee Myung-jae’s volley to safety. At the other end Jo Hyeon-woo was called into action to steer Jameel Al Yahmadi’s shot wide with eight minutes left in the half.

Despite being second best, the home side maintained their composure and, two minutes into injury time, Jaroslav Silhavy’s team were level as Harib Al Saadi delivered a dangerous free kick from the right that glanced the top of Jung’s head to beat Jo.

Son was denied a penalty early in the second half when referee Ma Ning overturned his on-field decision having consulted the pitchside monitor and Lee was narrowly wide with a wicked shot from right that bent towards goal.

Substitute Hwang Mun-ki forced Al Mukhaini into action with less than 10 minutes remaining but soon after Son worked his magic, the captain picking up possession from Lee outside the area before burying his shot into the bottom corner.

Kim Min-jae intervened in the dying minutes to deny Ali Sulaiman Al Busaidi as he bore down on goal, and Joo lashed in his side’s third in the 12th minute of added time to confirm Korea Republic’s victory.