South Korea kicked off their EAFF E-1 Football Championship opener with a commanding 3-0 win over the Chinese team on Monday, sending a clear message to the rest of the region.
The hosts set the tone early. In the eighth minute, Lee Dong-gyeong unleashed a powerful left-foot strike from outside the box that flew past the goalkeeper, igniting the crowd. Just 13 minutes later, striker Joo Min-kyu rose highest to head in a second, sending South Korea to a 2-0 halftime lead.
After the break, China began to push forward and created a handful of promising chances, but a clinical corner routine saw Kim Ju-sung slam home from close range in the 57th minute to seal the victory.
Under caretaker coach Dejan Djurdjevic, the Chinese side rolled out a youthful lineup, handing debuts to 2006-born prospects Kuai Jiwen and Wang Yudong. Djurdjevic praised their energy but admitted the experience gap was clear against a battle-tested South Korea squad.
"They scored early and played very smoothly, which put us under a lot of pressure," Djurdjevic said after the final whistle. He noted that injuries forced changes to his ideal XI and stressed the need to regroup before facing Japan on Saturday.
South Korea’s crisp passing, smart tempo shifts, and unwavering pressure never let their opponents settle, leaving little doubt about which side deserved all three points. For China, the loss is a wake-up call ahead of what promises to be a thrilling East Asian Cup.
Next up, China will aim to bounce back against Japan this Saturday, while South Korea will look to maintain their perfect start in front of their home fans.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
