Seoul: The men's national football team concluded the year in a manner reminiscent of its beginning, with a less-than-stellar display against an opponent they were expected to defeat comfortably. South Korea secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Ghana at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in their final match of 2025, thanks to a header by defender Lee Tae-seok in the 63rd minute. The match was characterized by South Korea's struggle to create scoring opportunities.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hwang Hee-chan, who came on as a second-half substitute, failed to convert a penalty he had earned in the 74th minute, his shot being easily saved by Ghanaian goalkeeper Benjamin Asare. Earlier in the year, on March 20, South Korea, then ranked 23rd, had been held to a 1-1 draw by 80th-ranked Oman in a World Cup qualifying match at home. Head coach Hong Myung-bo described that game as the team's worst performance of the qualification round.
Despite their struggles, South Korea, now ranked 22nd, managed to qualify for the upcoming World Cup. However, with the tournament approaching, concerns remain about the team's lack of improvement since the draw against Oman. In the match against Ghana, ranked 73rd, South Korea faced little early pressure but still struggled to penetrate the defense, with their passing lacking precision. Starting forward Oh Hyeon-gyu found himself isolated, rarely receiving the ball from his teammates.
The absence of injured veterans Hwang In-beom and Paik Seung-ho was felt in the midfield, where newer players failed to make an impact. Hong deployed different midfield combinations in each half, but all appeared disjointed and prone to turnovers that could have resulted in goals for Ghana. South Korea's first shot on target came as late as the 41st minute, with Kwon Hyeok-kyu testing Asare following a corner from Son Heung-min.
Lee Tae-seok's goal was assisted by a precise diagonal pass from Lee Kang-in, showcasing Lee's vision and skill. Despite this, South Korea was expected to produce more against a Ghanaian side missing key players and fielding several inexperienced individuals. Ghana's lineup was notably weakened, with only six outfield substitutes and several players with limited international experience.
South Korea has now secured three consecutive home victories, having previously defeated Paraguay and Bolivia. However, those results have not satisfied fans, as demonstrated by the attendance of 33,256 at Tuesday's match, marking the second consecutive game with fewer than 35,000 spectators in the 66,000-seat stadium.
Lee Kang-in acknowledged the team's initial lack of aggression but noted an improvement in the second half. "I think we still did a great job of battling in the midfield," he said. He emphasized the team's focus on improving performance rather than external criticism. Hwang Hee-chan highlighted the value of the recent matches in building team confidence and camaraderie, noting the contributions of younger players.