Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Salvador: An incredible seven-goal second half blitz helped Korea Republic beat Fiji 8-0 and begin their Men’s Olympic Football Tournament with a confidence boosting win on Thursday (local time).
Ryu Seung-woo had given Korea Republic a slender 1-0 half-time lead, but a brace apiece from Kwon Chang-hoon and Suk Hyun-jun, as well as two further efforts from Ryu and a Son Heung-min penalty, saw Shin Tae-yong’s charges ease to a victory that many had expected.
The win leaves the East Asians sitting atop Group C, three points clear of Mexico and Germany who had earlier shared a 2-2 draw.
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In a bright opening, Korea Republic were quick to take the game to their opponents, as Hwang Hee-chan’s angled drive, Lee Seul-chan’s wickedly deflected strike and Moon Chang-jin’s neat turn and shot all brought the best out of Fiji goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau within the first 25 minutes.
With a resolute Fiji rarely threatening Gu Sung-yun’s goal, Korea Republic – runners-up at January’s AFC U23 Championship - continued to dominate possession and came close to taking the lead on the half hour mark when Moon’s powerful downward header was smartly turned aside by a diving Tamanisau.
The breakthrough was, however, to come moments later when a looping cross from the right was turned in at the far post by Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Ryu to give the Taeguk Warriors a 32nd minute lead.
With half-time beckoning, Korea Republic could – and most probably should – have doubled their lead, but, after Filipe Baravilala had bundled over Ryu in the area, Moon’s fiercely hit penalty struck a post before rebounding to safety.
Eager to ram home their advantage, Korea Republic continued to press their less fancied opponents after the break and Tamanisau was twice forced into action early in the second period. First to turn aside Ryu’s 51st minute effort, and then to spectacularly repel Hwang’s pile driver after the Red Bull Salzburg forward had weaved his way through the massed Fijian ranks.
The game was ended as a contest though, when Korea Republic scored three times in two sensational second half minutes.
Kwon converted passes from Moon and Ryu in the 62nd and 63rd minutes, before Ryu grabbed his second of the game with a lashed effort which gave Tamanisau little chance also with 63 minutes on the clock.
Fiji were clearly rattled and they duly gave away a second penalty of the game when Jale Dreloa clattered into the impressive Ryu. Substitiute Son converted the spot kick with aplomb to register his side’s fifth goal of the night.
Suk was then on hand to open his personal account, the Porto star firing home a 76th minute rebound after Tamanisau had somehow managed to keep out Ryu’s close range effort.
With Fiji in disarray, Suk doubled his tally by heading home Moon’s late corner and Ryu completed his hat-trick with virtually the last kick of a pulsating match.
Korea Republic are next in action on Sunday when they face Germany at the same venue.
Korea Republic coach Shin Tae-yong "Our players were a bit nervous in the first half as it is our first game in such a big tournament. I told the players during half-time to play more aggressively and I think this worked well in the second half. This big win will be a big motivation for us. Now I am relaxed after the good result and we can only concentrate on our next match against Germany. It we win next match, It will be much easier to qualify for the quarter-finals. I wanted Germany and Mexico to draw and it actually happened. I cannot tell you everything but I will use a different formation from today in the next match.”
