South Korea’s victory was already predicted before the home exhibition match against Vietnam.
What’s surprising is that coach Jurgen Klinsmann has fielded perhaps the strongest possible lineup, with European stars like captain Son Heung-min, midfielder Lee Kang-in, striker Hwang-Hee Chan and defender Kim Min-Jae, which showed how much respect they had. Vietnam.
All four players made major contributions to South Korea’s big victory.
Kim opened the scoring early with a header in the fifth minute, before Hwang’s goal doubled the hosts’ lead.
Between those goals was Vietnam’s biggest chance of the first half, as Truong Tien Anh’s curling shot almost went in. Two minutes after South Korea’s second goal, Vietnam had another chance but Nguyen Dinh Bac palmed it over the bar while in goal-scoring position. .
In the second half, South Korea maintained their dominance and it took just four minutes to make it 3-0. Son’s pass from the flank forced defender Vo Minh Trong to score an own goal. 10 minutes later, Son scored a goal. After that, he was fouled and denied a relevant scoring opportunity from Bui Hoang Viet Anh, and the referee sent off this defender.
With 10 men left on the field, Vietnam conceded two more goals from Lee Kang-in and Jeong Woo-yeong. Vietnam almost scored a consolation goal in the 73rd minute when Khuat Van Khang’s free kick hit the post.
Vietnam lost 0-2 in two previous friendlies against China and Uzbekistan. The match against South Korea was Vietnam’s final exhibition match in preparation for the second round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers next month.