The quality of Lee Kang-in’s cross is exquisite, the velocity and flight of the diagonal ball that floats just overhead of Ghana’s defense and into the trajectory of Lee Tae-seok at the far post…it’s breathtaking. It’s also the sole game winning goal. 🇰🇷⚽️🔥Video credit: theKFA

The last Korea attack vs US almost made a bit of history - following a US corner, Lee Kang-in started a counter, nearly threads a pass to Jens Castrop -the furthest & fastest charging up the field. So close for Jens, not only 1st cap, but what might have been as he was clear on goal.

Another moving part to shutout: Jo Hyun-woo. The savior of 🇰🇷 vs Germany in 2018 World Cup, his shotstopping including a double save on Balogun saved the backline blushes who were ball watching a bit too much on this particular occasion.

Several moving parts to Korea's shut out win over the US last Saturday, one of them is Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae. In this sequence later in the game, Captain Kim (Son left/deputized Kim) helped mark Balogun, then read the situation to shut down Pulisic, and finally helped provide defensive cover.

Jens Castrop earned his 1st cap for Korea after much anticipation following FIFA approval to switch nationality last month. He subbed in the US match, in 30 mins he put on an impressive display of quickness & def contributions in the midfield. The 1st biracial Korean born outside Korea to rep 🇰🇷

Risk/reward playing out the back in 2nd half vs US. An example perhaps of dubious judgement by GK Jo Hyun-woo to pass dangerously in the middle- yet Korea dealt with with the pressure, skillful (and courageous enough) to pass out of trouble, which opened up space to launch a promising attack

Hot take: 2 things true at the same time, like 1. Son in slow decline (exhibit A Son's pass easily read to block, like watching Son with Spurs in '24-'25 season)

2. Son still super effective and impactful for Korea as seen in int'l Sept window (exhibit B & C Son's run behind into valuable space)

Revisiting game vs US, Seol Young-woo press resistance not only keeps the ball, this sequence before HT illustrated the new look incisive🇰🇷⚽️ that not only was attacking, they did it with Barcelona-esque swagger to link intelligently (ironically Son would be the one to “drop the ball” so to speak)

Lee Dong-gyeong starts the progression leading to his goal, passes centrally➡️Kim Jin-gyu then drifts towards goal. Couple moving parts as Kim launches it long, knocked down by Lee Jae-sung, and Kim quietly moves further up. Meanwhile the ball goes from Son➡️LTS➡️PSH➡️back to Kim Jin-gyu…

Observations from minutes before 2nd goal. Clip1: When Jo can distribute the well, good things happen, including seeing Son play hybrid 10, get ball in pocket of space, & run forward. Clip2: Lee Dong-gyeong with the Def Con (FPL slang). Clip3: Lee Tae-seok having trouble with Dest =trouble for 🇰🇷

Before Lee Dong-gyeong’s goal, Korea kept winning ball back and causing problems for US. 1st clip, THAT Lee Han-beom pass🔥and LDG picking ball up to keep attack alive. Middle clip shows LDG driving the ball dangerously but didn’t pick the right option to slip the ball to Son. 3rd clip: long ball ✅

Korean attacks varied. Route 1 long pass by Lee Han-beom or-in this case-Jo Hyun-woo-Lee Jae-sung knocked down to Son, he teed off to underlapping run by Lee Tae-seok. Route 2 go thru US centrally. Kim Min-jae➡️Kim Jin-gyu➡️Paik Seung-ho ➡️Lee Dong-gyeong ➡️shot on target

🇰🇷dictated tempo 1st half, absorbing pressure w/ 3back system (5 back in def phase/compact middle)+Son tracking back (he won it there 3X). Strategic moments to advance press gave US little time & space. Middle clip shows Lee Han-beom pinging it long to Son or Lee Jae-Sung (repeated that effectively)

First couple of minutes won’t be very flattering of Son, squandering golden chance to score in 3rd min (replay showed he was onsides) credit to Lee Jae-sung for winning ball & remarkable off balance pass. Shortly after, Son took several touches too many. Learning curve was fairly quick in this game

Thread deconstructing how🇰🇷beat🇺🇸. (Posts out of order)Son’s goal from open play exactly 50 seconds after US attack fizzled. Playing out back, risky but rewarding as they advance smartly to US’s half. Lee Jae-sung key here, starting centrally then drifting wide, his through ball to Son brilliant ⚽️🔥

Jens Castrop just made history: 1st biracial Korean to represent the Korean national men’s team today in a 0:2 win vs United States. Video credit to Jinseok Yang w/ Tavern of the Taeguk Warriors