Hong admits ‘wrong decisions’ has South Korea on verge of World Cup exit, regrets Son choice

South Korea’s crumbling World Cup campaign has been left dangling by a thread following a 1-0 defeat by South Africa, on a night when coach Hong Myung-bo axed Son Heung-min from his starting line-up. It had appeared that Hong’s team were limping towards a last-32 meeting with Canada in Los Angeles, home to more than 300,000 Koreans, when they survived multiple South African opportunities to remain deadlocked beyond the hour mark. But energetic winger Thapelo Maseko, the most dangerous player on the pitch, finished expertly after 63 minutes to secure his country’s progress to a World Cup knockout stage for the first time. “I’m very proud of the performance of my team and I think we gave an answer to all those big mouths of the last weeks that thought that we had to change something,” Hugo Broos, the South Africa coach, said. “We just did what we did. We just did what I wanted to do and this is the result.” Already under the microscope back at home, Hong is staring at the ignominy of twice failing to take South Korea out of their group, having claimed only one point as boss in 2014. They must wait to learn whether they advance as a best third-place finisher. Mexico beat Czech Republic 3-0 to top Group A with a 100 per cent winning record. The Europeans ended rock bottom on one point. “Ultimately, it comes down to me,” Hong said. “I guess I made the wrong decisions and that was the reason why we had a bad result. Nothing more, nothing less. “We thought that Son Heung-min would be better-placed when they were losing their energy, and when we could see more spaces. That’s why we wanted Son to be at his strongest, and the opponent to be a bit weaker.” The Koreans’ slump represented more bad news for Asian football following a dismal fortnight in North America for the continent’s representatives. The nine teams have played a combined 20 matches, winning three and losing 12. They have scored 19 goals and conceded 44, claiming 14 points out of a possible 60. In every respect, other than on the field, Son is still the main man in South Korean football. On the flight north from Guadalajara, David Park, a Los Angeles-based South Korean, , was lamenting Hong’s treatment of Son. His thoughts echoed those of most his compatriots, vexed over the head coach’s recent employment of Son as a lone striker, and his increasing tendency to withdraw him early. Against South Africa, Hong initially doubled down, ending Son’s stretch of 12 straight World Cup finals starts, dating back to a 1-1 draw with Russia in June 2014, A fine defender in South Korea’s 2002 semi-final team, Hong’s decision to pick Oh Hyeon-gyu over Son, as well as bringing in Lee Tae-seok and Hwang Hee-chan, did nothing to pep up a team that laboured in their 1-0 defeat by Mexico last week. He acknowledged as much when Hwang, Lee and Paik Seung-ho were all substituted at half-time, with Son, Jens Castrop and Kim Jin-gyu the men introduced. Kim Min-jae had an early header cleared off the line by Ime Okon, and Lee Kang-in blasted narrowly wide following a brisk Korean attack. From then on, South Africa were the brighter, more purposeful and more ambitious team. Relebohile Mofokeng had an effort deflected over the top of the South Korean goal, and Evidence Makgopa missed with a poor header before Maseko raced clear only to hesitate, allowing Lee Gi-hyuk to recover and clear the danger. Having teed up Thalente Mbatha for an effort that extended Kim Seung-gyu to his right, Maseko sent a shot of his own fizzing just too high to bother the Korean keeper. Hong’s triple substitution did nothing to alter the shape of this contest, regardless of Son playing in support of Oh as opposed to being the sole spearhead. With Mexico two up on the Czech Republic, South Korea were seemingly heading to Los Angeles and a date with Canada; Maseko had other ideas. Cushioning a pass along the floor from Tshepang Moremi, he thudded his shot between Castrop’s legs and inside Kim’s left post. Ronwen Williams in the South Africa goal finally had something to do when he reacted to keep out substitute Park Jin-seob’s stoppage-time close-range header, but South Korea did not deserve to get out of jail. At full-time, the South Africans euphorically haring around the pitch had to watch their feet for opponents desolate in heaps. News of a third Mexico goal, scored by Alvaro Fidalgo, prompted another lusty cheer from the spectators, other than those kitted in red. It was a night of hugely contrasting emotions. Park, who had considered his US$260 ticket good value, might have been left wondering about that verdict. Now he and his team are left helpless, waiting to discover whether they sneak through the back door and into the business end of this tournament.

Hong admits ‘wrong decisions’ has South Korea on verge of World Cup exit, regrets Son choice

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo left Son Heung-min on bench, then watched his side lose 1-0 to South Africa. Now fate lies in hands of others

South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo left Son Heung-min on bench, then watched his side lose 1-0 to South Africa. Now fate lies in hands of others