International Friendly Report: Northern Ireland 2-1 Korea Republic

From Odhrán Crumley in Windsor Park

 

It was a dream debut for Northern Ireland’s Paul Smyth against South Korea as he fired home the games winning goal only six minutes after being sprung from the bench by manager Michael O’Neill. 

 

Over 18,000 piled into Windsor Park for Northern Ireland’s first game of 2018 and their first since their painful World Cup qualifier exit at the hands of Switzerland in last November’s play-off.

 

Michael O’Neill’s men got off to the worst possible start in this match after seven minutes when a high ball from the Korean defence caught the Irish back line out allowing Changwoon Kwon to compose himself before finishing low into the bottom corner.

 

It was the visitors who continued to press with the star attraction in Spurs star Hueng Min Son going on a dazzling run before forcing a save from Trevor Carson.

 



But the home side began to grow into the game, winning a free deep in the Korea area. Gareth McAuley headed the ball down towards the goal where Jamie Ward proceeded to blast the ball into the net only for the strike to be ruled out for offside.

 

The goal soon came though from another free on the edge of the box after George Saville was fouled. George Saville, Jordan Jones and Ward and all stood over the ball waiting to execute a move straight from the training ground.

 

Saville ran away, as did Ward, leaving Jones to take but instead he slipped the ball to Ward who fired across goal forcing Kwon Chang Hoon to put the ball into his own net locking the scores at 1-1.

 



South Korea reverted to type retaining possession for what seemed like an age with Captain Ki Sueng Young of Swansea very much to the fore.

 

Northern Ireland raced out of the blocks for the second half immediately going on the attack. Josh Magennis cutting in from the left before hitting a rasping effort at goal tipping the bar on its way over.

 

As the game neared the hour mark Korea grew stronger as Son and Lee linked up to force a diving save from Carson, who proceeded to catch the resulting corner in spectacular fashion.

 

In true friendly fashion both sides rang the changes resulting in the game being played at a pedestrian pace for a period. In the 80th minute of the game Korea should have taken the lead with Heechan Hwang and Jaesung Lee combining with the latter bearing down on goal.

 

As Lee prepared to pull the trigger Conor McLaughlin got across perfectly timing and executing a sliding tackle to keep the scores level. McLaughlin’s actions raised the ‘GAWA’ crowd to its feet as song broke out.

 

There was only four minutes left on the clock when Conor Washington headed a long ball down to debutant Paul Smyth. He took a wonderful first touch showing real pace to beat his man before firing a rasping effort beyond the reach of the diving Korea goalkeeper and into the bottom left corner of the net.

 

Korea went in desperate search of an equaliser late on with a series of corners that were easily cleared.

 

Bobby Madden’s whistle the 2-1 win for Northern Ireland who prepare for a summer tour of South America. While counterparts Korea Republic turn their attention to this summer’s World Cup in Russia where they are in a group with Sweden, Mexico and World Champions Germany.

 

Northern Ireland: Trevor Carson, Gareth McAuley, Jonathan Evans (Craig Cathcart 67), Jordan Jones (Paul Smyth 82), Jamal Lewis, Corry Evans (Liam Boyce 62), George Saville, Oliver Norwood (Patrick McNair 72), Aaron Hughes (Conor McLaughlin 19), Jamie Ward (Conor Washington 62), Josh Magennis.

 

Korea Republic: Seunggyu Kim, MinJae Jim, Jinsu Kim, Young Lee, Hyunsoo Jang, Sungyueng Ki (Wooyoung Jung 67), Johoo Park (Changmin Lee 67), Changhoon Kwon (Heechan Hwang 62), Jaesung Lee, Heungmin Son (Kihun Yeom 74), Shinwook Kim.

 

Referee: Bobby Madden (Scotland)

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: George Saville (Northern Ireland) 

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