At Yongin Mireu Stadium, Kang-in Lee brought his latest international spell to a quiet close as South Korea beat Uzbekistan 2-0 in a friendly. The Atlético de Madrid player started on the right of Robert Moreno’s 4-4-2 and played the opening 45 minutes, but the evening belonged more clearly to Son Heung-min’s record-setting free-kick.
A landmark night for Son, a subdued one for Lee
South Korea took control early through Son, whose free-kick made him the country’s all-time leading scorer. The hosts added their second goal after the interval, when Oh Se-hun headed in from Song Min-kyu’s delivery, by which point Lee had already been substituted.
- South Korea defeated Uzbekistan 2-0 at Yongin Mireu Stadium.
- Lee began the match and completed the first half.
- Son Heung-min’s early set-piece goal moved him clear as South Korea’s leading scorer of all time.
- Oh Se-hun sealed the result with a second-half header from Song Min-kyu’s assist.
Questions over his role with the national team
Lee was again deployed as a conventional right-sided midfielder rather than being given the freedom he has enjoyed at Atlético. The Spanish coach’s 4-4-2 left him stationed wide, with limited support through the central areas, and the pattern has fuelled discussion in South Korea over why his club form has not yet translated as fully for the national side.
His brightest moments against Uzbekistan came in isolated bursts: a few quick accelerations and attempts to combine inside with team-mates. Uzbekistan’s defence, led by Manchester City player Abdukodir Khusanov, largely contained him.
South Korean coverage judged his first-half influence to be limited, arguing that the lack of midfield options removed much of the creative platform needed for Lee to affect the game.
International window in figures
The Uzbekistan match ended a first international break of the season that brought plenty of minutes but less impact than had been expected after Lee’s early displays for Atlético Madrid.
- 215 minutes played across the window.
- Three starts for South Korea.
- One assist, supplied for Son in the 4-1 defeat to Uruguay.
- No further direct goal contribution in the subsequent fixture against Uzbekistan.
Lee now returns to Madrid with South Korea still searching for the most effective way to place one of their most gifted attackers in Moreno’s system.
