Son scores and assists to lead South Korea over host USA 2-0

New York, 7 Sept - Son Heung-min scored one goal and set up another to spark South Korea's 2-0 victory over the United States in an international football friendly on Saturday.

The matchup between two clubs bound for the 2026 World Cup was played at Harrison, New Jersey, in the home stadium of MLS's New York Red Bulls.

The South Koreans advanced through Asian qualifying to next year's World Cup, to be co-hosted by the Americans, Canada and Mexico.

Son, a striker for LAFC of MLS, scored in the 18th minute and Lee Dong-gyeong added another in the 43rd to secure South Korea's triumph.

Son had previously played for US coach Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur, where Pochettino called Son one of his most important players.

South Korea improved to 4-2 with two drawn in the all-time rivalry against the US men, winning their first meeting since a US home triumph in 2014.

The Americans, coming off a 2-1 loss to Mexico in July's CONCACAF Gold Cup final, welcomed back Christian Pulisic after he missed the US run to the Gold Cup final.

"It's a team that's coming together," US midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said. "We have different pieces that are just trying to figure out how to play with each other. We still have things to improve upon.

"For us it's about keep going and keep building that team chemistry."

Son opened the scoring in the 18th minute, staying just onside and taking a pass from Lee Jae-sung, then rushing to the goal and firing a left-footed blast from a tough angle past US goalkeeper Matt Freese into the far right side of the net.

"It was a little bit too easy for them to play through us. We made some adjustments at half-time and the second half was much better," US captain and defender Tim Ream said.

South Korea doubled the lead in the 43rd minute when Son worked a give-and-go play, took the return pass in the heart of the penalty area, then quickly flicked the ball to Lee Dong-gyeong, who back-heeled the ball with his left foot into the goal to give the visitors a 2-0 edge at half-time.

"They are a good team that's playing really well together," Berhalter said. "They know each other really well and they have quality. If you make little mistakes they are going to punish you."

Son was replaced by Oh Hyeon-gyu in the 63rd minute as both sides made multiple lineup changes.

Pulisic missed a header in the 66th minute after Diego Luna had a shot blocked moments earlier.

- 'To gel and to build' -

Jo Hyeon-woo saved a close-range shot by Richards as the hosts attempted to press the attack.

Freese made a save on a header by Oh in the 90th minute and Jo denied Folarin Balogun in the fourth minute of stoppage time to preserve the clean sheet.

"We just need to continue to gel and to build," Ream said. "We have to work on everything. There's not one thing and there's not nothing.

"We have to continue on. We have to keep going... raise the standard and work on things for the next game."

That will come against Japan on Tuesday at Columbus, Ohio.BSS