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| The match between South Korea and Jordan in the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA North-China World Cup held at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 25th. Lee Kang-in, who was injured, is watching the game from the stands. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.03.25/ |
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| The match between South Korea and Jordan in the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA North-China World Cup held at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 25th. Lee Dong-kyung is trying to break through. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.03.25/ |
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| The match between South Korea and Jordan in the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA North-China World Cup held at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 25th. Yang Min-hyuk is trying to pass. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.03.25/ |
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'Ace' It was too much to completely replace Lee Kang-in's void.
South Korea's A national team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, moved away 1-1 in Group B's eighth match against Jordan in the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Gyeonggi Province on the 25th. With 16 points (4 wins and 4 draws), South Korea had to settle for keeping its lead. From the North Korea-China World Cup, the number of countries that advance to the finals will increase from 32 to 48. In Asia, 8.5 tickets were also allocated, up from 4.5 to 4. In the third qualifying round, the first and second places in each group will win a ticket to the North Korea-China World Cup finals. South Korea finished the game with a disappointing result, but it is still likely to advance to the finals by maintaining its No. 1 position.
South Korea operated a 4-2-3-1 formation. Son Heung-min came out as a one-top. Lee Dong-kyung (Kim Chun), Lee Jae-sung (Mines) and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) helped from the back. Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) and Park Yong-woo (Al Ain) worked together with the double volanche. Lee Tae-seok (Pohang), Kwon Kyung-won (Corpacan Club), Cho Yoo-min (Sharjah), and Seol Young-woo (Trvena Zvezda) were located in Four Bag. Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan) defended the goal.
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| A match between South Korea and Oman in the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA North-China World Cup at Goyang Stadium on the 20th. Lee Kang-in is complaining of pain after falling due to a rough tackle. Goyang = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.03.20/ |
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Ahead of the match against Jordan, Lee Kang-in was as painful as Kim Min-jae's absence. Lee Kang-in was so important to the Korean national team's performance that Hong Myung-bo saved as a starter in the last match against Oman. Lee Kang-in was deployed in the 38th minute of the first half along with Baek Seung-ho's injury at the time. The Lee Kang-in effect changed the flow of the game as soon as it was put in, giving South Korea the lead. Lee Kang-in broke Oman's two-line defense with a sharp pass, and Hwang Hee-chan's shot that received the ball shook the net. He scored an offensive point in six months for the A national team since the match against Oman in September last year. In the second half, Lee Kang-in's influence was clear. Son Heung-min's shot, which received Lee Kang-in's pass in the fourth minute of the second half, sharply threatened Oman's goal.
However, the bad news of the injury came. In the 35th minute of the second half, Lee Kang-in collapsed on the ground and complained of pain. Even when the opponent scored, he failed to raise his body. Lee Kang-in, who complained of an ankle injury, was carried off the ground by medical staff. After Lee Kang-in left, the South Korean national team tried to turn the tables by putting in Oh Hyun-kyu and Yang Hyun-joon, but it ended in a 1-1 draw.
Lee Kang-in, who left the stadium on crutches after the game, came out with the results of a detailed examination on the 21st. It was not a serious injury, but it was impossible to play against Jordan. Coach Hong said, `I have fully confirmed my attitude, attitude and mindset of playing for the national team now. However, from our point of view, that player is also important to our team, but he is also very important to his team, so Baek Seung-ho and Jung Seung-hyun decided to cancel the call-up. Now I'm going to prepare for the Jordan game without the three players." Coach Hong has decided not to select a separate player to replace the three players. Instead of returning to his team immediately, Lee Kang-in will proceed with treatment in Korea and return to his team.
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| The match between South Korea and Jordan in the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA North-China World Cup held at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 25th. Lee Dong-kyung and Son Heung-min are preparing for professional kicks. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.03.25/ |
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Lee Kang-in's absence was also a big concern for coach Hong. Hong said, `I was also thinking about new players participating in the match against Oman. It seems that they have more difficulties than seniors who have experienced jet lag, etc. I'm ready to put it in whenever I see a good performance. (March A-match) If I had won two games and decided to advance to the finals quickly, it could have helped everyone grow. You should not give points to the teams below. Being chased doesn't make you feel urgent. The most important thing is to finish the war in Jordan well.'
Hong's players were Lee Dong-kyung and Yang Min-hyuk. Lee Dong-kyung is playing as the core of the team this season with two goals and one assist in five games as a member of K League 1 Gimcheon. He is an offensive midfielder and winger who shows the best influence in the K League. It is listed at the top of the K-League in various fields such as key passes and effective shots. Yang Min-hyuk played as the best prospect at Gangwon FC last year and was selected as the K League Young Player Award and Best 11 with 12 goals and 6 assists in 38 games. Already surprised fans with his move to Tottenham last summer. Currently, he is adapting to the England stage on loan from Queens Park Rangers. Attention was focused on whether it could replace Lee Kang-in's gap.
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| The match between South Korea and Jordan in the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA North-China World Cup held at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 25th. Yang Min-hyuk is waiting for the pass. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.03.25/ |
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Lee Dong-kyung started as a right winger and led the right attack along with Seol Young-woo and Hwang In-beom. However, the performance he showed from the front was disappointing. He tried to shake his opponent with active movements, but he did not create a threatening attack opportunity. It was not easy to make strong shooting attempts or sharp passes to the front.
Yang Min-hyuk, who was put in at the beginning of the second half, was also insufficient to show the influence of Lee Kang-in. Yang Min-hyuk also showed a sharp breakthrough right after he was put in, but he could not replace Lee Kang-in's playmaking ability to penetrate between opposing defenses in the front.
In Lee Kang-in's absence, concerns about creative players who will fill the spot were not resolved.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
