Korea Republic men’s national team had a proper warm-up in the buildup to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, as they welcomed Brazil to Seoul on Thursday for the first match of a four-game friendly series in June.

Paulo Bento’s charges lost 5-1 against Brazil in front of a 64,872 strong crowd at Seoul World Cup Stadium, suffering their sixth defeat – with a win – at the hands of the South Americans. Hwang Uijo cancelled out Richarlison’s early opener in the first half, before Neymar Junior put his side ahead twice from the spot and substitutes Philippe Coutinho and Gabriel Jesus put the result beyond doubt in the closing minutes.

Next up for the Taegeuk Warriors are Chile at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on Monday, before taking on Paraguay in Suwon on Friday. They are returning to Seoul to round off the friendly series against Egypt on 14 June.

Korea Republic will be under scrutiny over the next two weeks, as they face the South American powerhouses in the shape of Brazil, Chile and Paraguay as well as formidable African side Egypt – without their defensive lynchpins Kim Minjae, Park Jisu as well as Lee Jaesung who had been ruled out due to injury.

Bento, who had expected that “these four matches are likely to be even more difficult than the games he played in the past,” nevertheless deployed his favourites except Kwon Kyungwon, who started in place of first-choice centre-back Kim Minjae. Centre forward Hwang Uijo was flanked by Son Heungmin and Hwang Heechan; Paik Seungho, Hwang Inbeom and Jung Wooyoung in the midfield; Hong Chul, Kwon Kyungwon, Kim Younggwon, Lee Yong at the back; and Kim Seunggyu between the sticks.

Brazil came out strong from the outset, piling pressure on the hosts to grab an early lead. They made their intentions clear with a set-piece after two minutes, when Thiago Silva headed home from a Raphinha free-kick from the left. However, it was ruled offside almost immediately, much to the relief of the home crowd.

But the visitors were ruthless in attack, as they took a deserved lead after seven minutes. Alex Sandro’s cross from the left was diverted goalward by Fred, whose shot was then deflected by Richarlison in front of the goal area. Kim Seunggyu was left helpless as the ball hit his arm before finding its way into the back of the net.

The hosts, for their part, struggled to find their rhythm against the run of play, but somehow managed to create a handful of opportunities to draw level. Son Heungmin and Hwang Inbeom had their chances up front, but were denied by reflex saves from Weverton on 12 minutes.

The equaliser arrived shortly after the half-hour mark, when Hwang Heechan put Hwang Uijo through on the right channel. Under pressure from tight man-marking by Thiago Silva, the Bordeaux marksman turned around his marker before firing an unstoppable shot past a diving Weverton.

But it did not take long for Brazil to regain control of the game. Sandro was brought down inside the area by Lee Yong, and after a lengthy VAR review, Neymar stepped up to convert the resulting penalty on the stroke of half time. Brazil picked up where they had left off, as the second half got underway. It was another spot-kick from Neymar that extended their advantage on the hour mark, after Kim Younggwon was adjudged to have committed a foul inside the box.

Trailing by two goals, Bento reshuffled his side in an attempt to reduce the deficit. Kim Moonhwan and Jeong Wooyeong came off the bench to replace Lee Yong and Paik Seungho respectively on the hour, as the men in red pushed forward against the run of play. Son broke into the centre of the area before laying the ball over to the right, only for Hwang Inbeom to drag a powerful effort straight at Weverton.

On 71 minutes, Na Sangho was brought on for Hwang Uijo, as Son moved up front as a lone striker. Hwang Heechan was then replaced by Kwon Changhoon, as the hosts came all out attack in the closing minutes. It was the visitors that capitalised on some sloppy defending, as second-half substitutes Philippe Coutinho and Gabriel Jesus rounded off the goal fest.

International friendly match presented by Hana Bank(2 June 2022, Seoul World Cup Stadium) 

Korea Republic 1-5 Brazil
Scorers: Hwang Uijo 32’; Richarlison 7’, Neymar Jr. 42’ (pen), 57’ (pen), Coutinho 80’, Gabriel Jesus 90’+3

KOR: Kim Seunggyu; Lee Yong (Kim Moonhwan 58’), Kim Younggwon, Kwon Kyungwon, Hong Chul; Jung Wooyoung, Hwang Inbeom, Paik Seungho (Jeong Wooyeong 58’); Hwang Heechan (Kwon Changhoon 84’), Hwang Uijo (Na Sangho 71’), Son Heungmin