Korea Republic returned to pole position of Group H in the second round of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, after a comprehensive victory over Turkmenistan on Saturday.

Paulo Bento’s side claimed a 5-0 win at Goyang Stadium, where Hwang Uijo scored a brace with Nam Taehee, Kim Younggwon and Kwon Changhoon also on target.

The result put the hosts level on top of their group with Lebanon, who beat Sri Lanka 3-2 earlier in the afternoon. Both teams have accumulated ten points from four matches – three wins and a draw – but Korea Republic still have an advantage on goal difference (KOR +15, LBN +5) at the moment. The national team’s forthcoming matches are against Sri Lanka on Wednesday, and Lebanon on Sunday.

Bento opted for some familiar faces, as his charges resumed their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign after 19 months of layoff. Hwang led the attack up front, flanked by Son Heungmin, Kwon, Nam and Lee Jaesung. Jung Wooyoung took his usual defensive midfield role, protecting the back four of Hong Chul, Kim Younggwon, Kim Minjae and Kim Moonhwan as well as goalkeeper Kim Seunggyu.

The hosts surged forward from the outset, creating a golden opportunity to score within five minutes: Son’s pointblank header was deflected by a Turkmen defender, and as it was crossing the goal line another defender managed to clear the ball over the line. Moments later, Kwon saw his powerful free-kick blocked and smothered by the goalkeeper.

But the deadlock was duly broken after 11 minutes, when Hwang headed home from an inviting cross from Hong on the left back. Hwang, who was also on target against Mexico and Qatar in a series of friendlies last November before missing the match against Japan due to the COVID-19 outbreak in March, again proved himself as the first-choice striker of the national team.

Fired up by the opening goal, the men in red piled the pressure from midfield, creating a couple of clear-cut opportunities midway through the first half. Lee Jaesung launched a swift counter through Kwon and Son, before connecting with a right-foot effort that went straight at the keeper. Nam then exchanged quick one-two’s with Kwon and Hwang to break into the centre of the area, only to drag his low shot just wide.

Despite the profligacy, the hosts managed to double their lead on the stroke of half time. Nam made no mistake this time, latching onto a rebound after Kwon’s initial effort was blocked by the goalkeeper.

Korea Republic picked up where they had left off, as Hwang twice came close to scoring shortly after the interval. But the third goal for the hosts seemed inevitable as the hour-mark approached. Son’s corner from the left found Jung, who headed the ball across the goalmouth and into the path of Kim, who was then left with a simple task of converting the chance from close range with his right foot.

Even after leading 3-0, there was no stopping the hosts. In another set-piece, Son saw his free-kick parried away only into the path of an onrushing Kwon, who scored Korea Republic’s fourth of the night with his left foot.

The four-goal cushion left Bento with chances to test his substitutes, but the players would not sit back and rest on their laurels. Hwang added his second and Korea Republic’s fifth of the night on 73 minutes, flicking on a low cross from Kwon with a clever back heel to delight some four thousand fans inside the stadium.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023
Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 - Group H

Korea Republic 5-0 Turkmenistan

Scorers: Hwang Uijo 11’ 73’, Nam Taehee 45’+2, Kim Younggwon 57’, Kwon Changhoon 63’

KOR: Kim Seunggyu; Hong Chul (72’ Lee Kije), Kim Younggwon, Kim Minjae (84’ Park Jisu), Kim Moonhwan (75’ Lee Yong); Jung Wooyoung (84’ Won Dujae) Son Heungmin, Kwon Changhoon, Nam Taehee, Lee Jaesung (72’ Hwang Heechan); Hwang Uijo