Deal done: South Korea dismantled Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 in Provo, reinforcing Myung-Bo Hong’s claim that this pre-World Cup window is about rhythm as much as rehearsal.
Hong kept faith with the 3-4-2-1 shown this week, and even after Lee Gi-Hyuk’s 35th-minute booking there was never a hint of jeopardy. Son Heung-Min settled the contest before the interval, finishing Kim Moon-Hwan’s service in the 40th minute then converting a penalty in the 43rd. D. Lawrence’s 4-2-3-1 travelled light on pressure and lighter still on invention; Jo Hyeonwoo faced only a single shot on target across the night.
South Korea’s staff pushed the next phase immediately after half-time. Lee Jae-Sung replaced Kim Jin-Gyu at the break, Park Jin-Seop followed for Cho Yu-Min in the 54th minute, then came the decisive triple change on 61. Hwang Hee-Chan, Eom Ji-Sung and Cho Gue-Sung arrived together, with Cho taking over for Kim Moon-Hwan. A minute later Seol Young-Woo relieved Son Heung-Min to keep the wing-back shape aggressive. The impact was brutal. Lee Dong-Gyeong fed Cho for the third goal on 65 minutes, Hwang buried another penalty in the 75th minute, and two minutes later Seol squared for Cho to complete his brace.
Trinidad and Tobago chased adjustments of their own. Molik Khan’s booking in the 59th minute was followed by a triple change at the hour, but Lawrence’s bench offered no respite. Dante Sealy saw yellow in the 63rd minute, Michel Poon-Angeron in the 68th, and the quartet of swaps on 69 minutes could not slow the Koreans’ tempo. Jabari Brice, replaced by Teshorne Ragoo when the score was already 3-0, departed with three saves; Ragoo soon had to deal with the final two goals. Possession numbers told the rest of the story: 72 percent for the hosts, and a reminder that this Caribbean side remains in rebuilding mode after a busy CONCACAF spring.
Hong will be anxious to accent the positives. Son departed in the 62nd minute, his work done, while Cho Gue-Sung’s double underlined the depth behind the captain. Lee Jae-Sung’s control between the lines and Hwang In-Beom’s crisp cameo after his 62nd-minute entrance kept the ball circulating at 92 percent passing accuracy. Even defenders like Kim Min-Jae, eased in on 62 minutes, were allowed to knock the rust off without stress. Only Lee Gi-Hyuk’s early caution will enter the worry ledger, and even that arrived in a match otherwise devoid of controversy.
Statistics
- Shots on target: South Korea 11, Trinidad and Tobago 1
- Total shots: South Korea 19, Trinidad and Tobago 2
- Possession: South Korea 72 percent, Trinidad and Tobago 28 percent
- Corner kicks: South Korea 7, Trinidad and Tobago 1
- Saves: Jo Hyeonwoo 1, Jabari Brice 3, Teshorne Ragoo 2
South Korea now pivot toward the European leg of their build-up, with the June 12 meeting against the Czechs looming. For readers tracking that next opponent, the latest preparations are covered in the Czech Republic vs Kosovo preview. Trinidad and Tobago head home needing more punch before their own qualifiers resume; Lawrence has a long week ahead.
