Harrison: Captain Son Heung-min was the offensive star for South Korea in a 2-0 away win over the United States, as he collected a goal and an assist. And his teammates on defense were the unsung heroes in the clean-sheet victory at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, as head coach Hong Myung-bo's back-three formation worked to great effect.
According to Yonhap News Agency, in his first international match of 2025, Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae served as the anchor on defense that he had been throughout his career, but in a different setting. He was flanked by Kim Ju-sung and Lee Han-beom, as the trio of center backs kept the home team U.S. off the board. Offensive-minded defenders Lee Tae-seok and Seol Young-woo got the nod as wingbacks on either side.
Hong began experimenting with the back-three setup, a departure from a back-four formation, at the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship in July. With the regional tournament not in FIFA international calendar, Hong did not have the services of his Europe-based veterans, including Kim Min-jae. Results were mixed with only players from the domestic and the Japanese league on hand, as South Korea beat China 3-0 but fell to Japan 1-0.
Hong had said he wanted to have another tactical option in his back pocket for next year's FIFA World Cup and he would eventually decide whether the back-three formation would be his Plan A or Plan B at the big tournament. The victory over the U.S. represented a positive step forward in that regard.
Kim Min-jae survived a scare in the 14th minute, when his clearing attempt from the deep end of his own zone landed right at Sebastian Berhalter. Goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo bailed Kim out with a diving save. For the most part, though, Kim was the steady presence at the back, utilizing his speed and physicality to foil U.S. buildup. He also leaned on his offensive instincts to generate quick transition chances at the other end.
Son, in addition to getting himself on the scoresheet, also covered a lot of ground up front while applying some high pressing. Attacking midfielders Lee Dong-gyeong and Lee Jae-sung joined in the effort to harass U.S. defenders in their own zone and force them into making harried passes. And South Korean attackers could afford to pressure their counterparts up high knowing that Kim and Co. would have their back if the Americans tried to find some space.
On the downside, high pressing, while effective in stretches, can be an exhausting tactic. And South Korea's organization suffered when Lee Jae-sung had to leave the field with an injury in the 50th minute. Mass substitutions just past the hour mark also came at the expense of continuity. Overall, though, Hong said he was pleased with his players' response to the relatively unfamiliar formation.
"When I first used the back-three formation at the East Asian tournament, I saw good potential for the future there. That's why I wanted to work our Europe-based players into the system here," Hong said. "And those players exceeded my expectations, despite having only a short period of time to prepare for this match. Kim Min-jae in particular did a great job leading his younger teammates."
Hong said it was still too early to call the back-three formation his Plan A for the World Cup but added, "I get the feeling that our players are getting better and better. Beating a team as strong as the U.S. should help our players a great deal mentally."