Following a commanding 3-0 victory over China on matchday one, South Korea continues its campaign to reclaim the EAFF E-1 Football Championship with a fixture against Hong Kong on Friday. With goal difference potentially crucial, the Taeguk Warriors are expected to press for a decisive win.
Match Information
- Fixture: Hong Kong vs. South Korea
- Competition: EAFF E-1 Football Championship, Matchday 2
- Venue: Yongin Mireu Stadium, Yongin
- Date: Friday, July 11th, 8:00 PM KST
Recent Form
South Korea began its title defense with a comfortable 3-0 win against China. Lee Dong-gyeong opened the scoring with a superb curling shot from outside the box just nine minutes in. Joo Min-kyu added a second with a header in the 21st minute before Kim Ju-sung secured the victory in the 57th minute. The match, which South Korea controlled from the start, also saw debuts for Kim Bong-soo, Kang Sang-yoon, Lee Ho-jae, Seo Min-woo, and Mo Jae-hyeon.
In contrast, Hong Kong suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat to Japan in their opening match. A dominant first-half performance from Japan, including four goals from Ryo Germain, set the tone. Matt Orr’s consolation goal was Hong Kong’s first against Japan in a full international in 40 years, but it did little to soften the impact of the resounding loss.
Head-to-Head
The historical record between the two nations is overwhelmingly in South Korea’s favor. In 30 meetings, South Korea has won 26, with three draws and only one loss. Hong Kong’s sole victory dates back to a 3-2 friendly win in 1958.
The last six encounters have all occurred in the EAFF Championship, with South Korea winning every match, scoring 17 goals and conceding only three. Their most recent meeting was a 3-0 victory for the Taeguk Warriors in the 2022 edition of the tournament.
Team Analysis
For Hong Kong, the EAFF Championship is seen as a valuable opportunity to gain experience against elite regional opponents rather than to compete for the trophy. Despite the difficult result against Japan, the team has shown incremental progress in possession and chance creation. Coach Ashley Westwood has evolved the team’s tactics from the aggressive, high-pressing style seen under his predecessor, implementing a more flexible formation that shifts from a 4-1-4-1 to a 3-2-4-1. While star attacker Everton Camargo is out with an injury, key players to watch include Shinichi Chan, Yue Tze-nam, and Matt Orr, who all feature regularly in the Chinese Super League.
South Korea’s manager, Hong Myung-bo, is using the tournament to experiment with a back-three system he may deploy at next year’s World Cup. He praised the ball distribution and transitions from the defense against China but noted it is “still early.” Further rotation is expected against Hong Kong, potentially giving opportunities to players like left wingback Cho Hyun-taek and centre-back Byeon Jun-soo. Inspired by Japan’s large victory, South Korea will be motivated to secure a similar result to improve their goal difference ahead of a likely title decider against the Samurai Blue.
Prediction
Despite expected squad rotation and a regional heatwave, South Korea possesses far too much quality for Hong Kong. An early goal for the Taeguk Warriors could open the floodgates for a comprehensive victory.
Hong Kong 0-4 South Korea
