Yongin: The host nation South Korea defeated Hong Kong 2-0, marking their second consecutive win at the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Football Championship. Kang Sang-yoon and Lee Ho-jae each netted their first international goals at Yongin Mireu Stadium, further solidifying South Korea's dominant record of 23 wins, five draws, and two losses against Hong Kong since their last defeat in 1958.

According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea kicked off the four-nation tournament with a 3-0 victory over China on Monday and is set to conclude the competition against Japan on Tuesday evening at the same venue. Japan, who triumphed over Hong Kong with a 6-1 score on Tuesday, is slated to face China on Saturday. With Japan favored in their upcoming match, the championship title is expected to be decided in the South Korea-Japan encounter.

In its 10th edition, the EAFF tournament sees South Korea vying for their sixth title and Japan for their third. Among the participating teams, Japan leads the FIFA rankings at No. 17, followed by South Korea at No. 23, China at No. 94, and Hong Kong at No. 147.

South Korea took control early in the match, breaking through Hong Kong's defense in the 27th minute with Kang Sang-yoon's goal. Despite multiple attempts from both sides, South Korea maintained their lead, with Lee Ho-jae extending it to 2-0 in the 67th minute. Despite Hong Kong's late efforts, South Korea preserved a clean sheet, outshooting Hong Kong 6-0 and dominating shot attempts 20-3.

The EAFF tournament does not appear on FIFA's international match calendar, allowing participating nations to field players from domestic and Asian leagues. South Korea's squad includes 23 players from the K League and three from Japan's J1 League, as they also audition for next year's FIFA World Cup. Head coach Hong Myung-bo made significant lineup changes, giving several players their international debuts and providing opportunities for those seeking to secure spots for future competitions.