S. Korea beat Kuwait 4-0 to keep unbeaten record
SEOUL: Korea Republic closed out their campaign with a resounding 4-0 win over Kuwait in Group B of the AFC Asian Qualifiers — Road to 26 on Tuesday.
The win meant Korea Republic ended their campaign unbeaten with 22 points, with Kuwait finishing at the foot of the table.
Having already secured their 11th consecutive and 12th overall Fifa World Cup appearance, Korea Republic dominated the proceedings but Lee Han-beom, Oh Hyeon-gyu and Bae Jun-ho attempts fell off target.
Kuwait remained calm under pressure as Korea Republic maintained the intensity with Oh seeing his attempt from distance blocked, while Bae brought the best out Kuwait custodian Sulaiman Abdulghafoor following Lee Kang-in's set-up in the 19th minute.
Korea Republic finally broke the deadlock in the 30th minute after Hwang In-beom's corner bounced off Kuwait captain Fahad Al Hajeri before sailing past keeper Abdulghafoor.
The Al Arabi SC custodian had to be on his toes moments later to deny Won Du-jae's close range header before foiling Lee's dangerous cross into the area.
Kuwait, whose hopes of advancing to the playoffs were dashed following a 2-0 defeat to Palestine last Thursday, struggled to settle in the second half as Korea Republic turned up the intensity with Lee again threatening from outside the box.
The East Asian side doubled their tally in the 50th minute after Bae played a through ball for Lee, who finished brilliantly past Abdulghafoor for his 11th goal for Korea Republic.
The momentum carried Korea Republic further in front three minutes later after Bae Jun-ho nodded down Hwang In-beom's deep ball into the box for Oh Hyeon-gyu to finish on the turn.
Abdulghafoor denied Won's headed attempt from close range in the 72nd minute before Kim Ju-sung saw his header from inside the six-yard-box denied by the bar.
But there was no denying Korea Republic as they went 4-0 up moments later after Kuwait failed to clear the ball with Lee Jae-Sung striking home a low shot which took a deflection before settling in the back of the net to seal the emphatic victory. — AFC
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