Frustrating first half for South Korea U-23s in World Cup qualifier against South Africa

South Korea's U-23 national football team faced a frustrating first half in their crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier against South Africa, ending the period in a scoreless draw. The match, held in Monterrey, Mexico, saw the Korean team struggling to impose themselves despite holding a significant possession advantage.

While South Korea controlled 61% of the ball, it was South Africa that dictated the tempo and created the most dangerous opportunities. The South Africans registered 10 shots to Korea's 4 in the first half, with 3 on target compared to Korea's 1. The Korean defense was frequently tested by South Africa's quick counter-attacks and ability to penetrate the space behind the backline.

The Korean team's midfield struggled to connect passes effectively, leading to turnovers and sustained pressure from the South African side. Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu made several key saves to deny South Africa, including a notable stop in the 29th minute from a long-range effort. The team's offensive efforts proved largely ineffective, with players resorting to backward passes due to a lack of clear passing options.

Coach Hong Myung-bo attempted to inject creativity by dropping midfielder Lee Kang-in deep to help build play, similar to a strategy used in the previous match against Mexico. However, this change did not yield the desired results. The team's inability to break down South Africa's defense and their own defensive vulnerabilities contributed to a disappointing performance in the opening 45 minutes. The outcome of the simultaneous match between Mexico and Czech Republic could still offer Korea a path to the next round even with a loss, depending on the results.