HONG KONG: Skipper Son Heung-min scored a brace as South Korea made it two wins from two games in 2026 World Cup qualifying with a 3-0 victory away in China on Tuesday.
Son silenced a sell-out crowd of more than 40,000 in Shenzhen with two goals in the first half, the first a penalty and the second a clever header from a corner just before half-time.
South Korea wrapped the game up in the dying minutes through a bullet header by Jung Seung-hyun — from a Son set-piece — and top Group C with a perfect six points.
Jurgen Klinsmann’s side thumped Singapore 5-0 last week to begin their qualifying campaign in style and they were in much the same mood against an outclassed China.
With attacker Son looking in the groove, the Koreans dominated and were ahead after 11 minutes.
Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan was brought down in the box and Tottenham Hotspur’s Son duly stroked home the penalty.
It was all South Korea. Forward Cho Gue-sung headed just over the bar when unmarked from a corner and Son stung the palms of overworked goalkeeper Yan Junling.
Hwang In-beom’s direct free-kick fizzed just past Yan’s post midway through the half but China should have been level three minutes before the break with their first real chance.
South Korean full-back Lee Ki-je was dispossessed and Liu Binbin crossed for Tan Long, but the Chinese forward’s first-time snap shot went narrowly wide.
They were to regret it on the stroke of half-time.
Son, who had been denied moments earlier by the legs of Yan, leapt unmarked from a corner to direct his deft header back across the China goal and into the far corner.
South Korea, who reached the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup, should have gone 3-0 ahead soon after the restart but China defender Zhu Chenjie cleared off the line, before Jung put the game to bed late on.
In other Asian World Cup qualifiers, North Korea thrashed Myanmar 6-1 away and Tajikistan won in Pakistan by the same scoreline.
Later Tuesday, Australia face Palestine in Kuwait, Japan play Syria in Jeddah and India host Qatar.
The top two from each of the nine groups in Asian qualifying for the World Cup in North America will progress through to the final qualifying stage.
Son scores twice as S. Korea outclass China in World Cup qualifier
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Son scores twice as S. Korea outclass China in World Cup qualifier
- Jurgen Klinsmann’s side thumped Singapore 5-0 last week to begin their qualifying campaign in style
- They were in much the same mood against an outclassed China
Man City close to Guehi signing: Palace boss Glasner
- City have stepped up their pursuit of Guehi in a deal reportedly worth $27m after suffering an acute injury crisis at center-half
- “Latest understanding, the deal with Marc is in the final stages,” Glasner said
LONDON: Manchester City are in the “final stages” of completing a deal for England defender Marc Guehi, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner said on Friday.
City have stepped up their pursuit of Guehi in a deal reportedly worth £20 million ($27 million) after suffering an acute injury crisis at center-half.
Guehi, who came close to joining Liverpool on transfer deadline day in September, would become City’s second signing of the January transfer window after their capture of winger Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth last week for about £65 million.
The 25-year-old captained Palace to FA Cup success in May against City — the first major trophy in the south London club’s history — and has won 26 England caps.
Other clubs reportedly interested in the defender, including Liverpool once again and Bayern Munich, were understood to be targeting a move at the end of the season, when Guehi was due to be a free agent.
“Latest understanding, the deal with Marc is in the final stages,” Glasner said on the eve of Palace’s Premier League match at Sunderland.
“We can’t confirm, but it is not done. The result is Marc doesn’t play tomorrow for us.”
The Palace boss added: “When the players want to move on, a deal will happen. It looks like it has happened now.
“Everyone wanted Marc to stay forever. I talked to him, of course, it stays between us. Marc showed it in the summer transfer window, showed it the whole autumn that he was 100 percent committed to the team and to Crystal Palace.
“I wish him all the best for the rest of his career. He is still at the beginning of his great career. He is a fantastic guy.”
City manager Pep Guardiola stressed he had “nothing to say” about the potential transfer at his own press conference ahead of his side’s match at Manchester United.
The club are currently without senior center-backs John Stones, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol due to injury, while Nathan Ake has struggled to play more than once a week due to fitness issues.
Guardiola, whose team are second in the Premier League, six points behind Arsenal, said the club were “in a difficult situation for not one game but a long, long period,” adding: “Ruben will be back soon. Josko, no. John, hopefully we’ll see.”
City are also still challenging for silverware in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.
Glasner also said Friday he would leave Palace when his own contract expired at the end of the season.
