Korea Republic men’s national team slumped to another draw with Wales on the road.

Jürgen Klinsmann’s side were held to a goalless draw by Wales at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday, as they extended their winless streak to five games since the German took over earlier this year. The Taegeuk Warriors will take on Saudi Arabia at Saint James’s Park in Newcastle on Tuesday.

In what was the national team’s first set of friendlies in Europe in five years and six months, Son Heungmin and Kim Minjae returned to the starting lineup having missed out in June due to sports hernia and military services respectively.

Klinsmann deployed Son and Cho Guesung up front, with the latter supported by the captain who was given a free role in the final third; Lee Jaesung, Hwang Inbeom, Park Yongwoo and Hong Hyeonseok in midfield; Lee Kije, Kim Minjae, Jung Seunghyun and Seol Youngwoo at the back; with Kim Seunggyu between the sticks.

The hosts made a defensive-minded approach based on a solid back three, with Brennan Johnson leading the attack alongside livewire forwards. The visitors, for their part, sought their chances from the flanks with Son marauding freely across the pitch.

Korea Republic struggled to find a breakthrough in the early stages of the game, whilst the Welsh fought back through Harry Wilson who forced a fine save by Kim Seunggyu on 13 minutes. Son did manage to carve out Korea Republic’s first attempt on target after 40 minutes, as the first half ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

The visitors still struggled to create any chances after the interval, and Klinsmann responded by reshuffling his midfield as Lee Soonmin and Hwang Heechan came off the bench to replace Hwang Inbeom and Hong Hyeonseok. Lee, who has been at the core of Gwangju FC’s fairytale run this season, made his international debut, whilst Hwang Uijo came on for Cho Guesung on 74 minutes.

Korea Republic almost paid for their profligacy when Kieffer Moore’s pointblank header smashed the goal post, as the hosts took control in the closing minutes to keep the Koreans at bay. Lee Donggyeong and Yang Hyeonjoon came off the bench to replace Park Yongwoo and Lee Jaesung, but it proved too little, too late to chance the flow of the game.

International friendly

Wales 0-0 Korea Republic

KOR: Kim Seunggyu, Lee Kije, Kim Minjae, Jung Seunghyun, Seol Yougwoo, Lee Jaesung (Yang Hyeonjoon 83’), Hwang Inbeom (Lee Soonmin 61’), Park Yongwoo (Lee Donggyeong 83’), Hong Hyeonseok (Hwang Heechan 61’), Cho Guesung (Hwang Uijo 74’), Son Heungmin