Son Heung-min scores 50th goal as Korea beat Kuwait 3-1

Korea secured a 3-1 victory over Kuwait in a 2026 World Cup qualifier, maintaining their lead in Group B with a fourth consecutive win.

Korea celebrate during a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Kuwait at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait on Thursday. [NEWS1]

Korea beat Kuwait 3-1 with another cohesive performance under manager Hong Myung-bo in a 2026 World Cup qualifier at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait on Thursday, retaining the frontrunner spot in Group B with their fourth straight win in the third qualifying round.

Korea dominated the first half with good cohesion that allowed the visitors to end it at 2-0 en route to their victory.

Regular captain Son Heung-min started on the left flank after missing the October international break due to injury.

Striker Oh Se-hun also started after scoring his first goal for the national team last month, with Lee Jae-sung behind him and Lee Kang-in on the right in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Kuwait played a defensive 4-4-2 that held strong for the first nine minutes, with all 11 players staying in their territory most of the time and adjusting their defense line stably to contain the Taeguk Warriors.

The center of the Kuwait midfield allowed no room for through-balls, but Hwang In-beom cracked it with a sharp cross from long range, allowing Oh to head in the opening goal in the 10th minute. That goal marked Oh’s second goal for Korea after his first against Iraq on Oct. 15.

Hwang imposed a significant presence during the first half, making several key interceptions and passes that allowed Korea to continue to pose a threat.

Fellow veteran midfielder Lee Jae-sung also had a clear impact on the pitch, diligently pressuring Kuwait and contributing in offense.

The midfielders’ efforts led Korea to have enough ball possession to create more chances for the second goal.

The next chance came when Son earned a penalty in the 19th minute and delivered, scoring his 50th goal for the national team and becoming the joint-second top scorer in men's national team history alongside legend Hwang Sun-hong.

Korea's Son Heung-min shoots during a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Kuwait at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait on Thursday. [YONHAP]

Korea did not stop there and continued to find cracks in the Kuwait defense, with Lee nearly scoring through a header that hit the goalpost in the 40th minute.

The set-up to that header was textbook, Son perfectly read Hwang’s movements on the left flank and slipped a pass toward him, setting Lee up with a cross.

Kuwait, meanwhile, failed to make valuable opportunities and were busy defending through the end of the first half.

The second half saw Korea countering pressure effectively and causing the home side trouble in defense with decisive runs on the edges. The right flank saw quicker attack with fullback Seol Yeong-woo, who showed off his pace and accurate crosses.

Kuwait had little time possessing the ball, but still capitalized on a counter attack during which Mohammad Daham latched onto a cross to fire a shot into the back of the net in the 60th minute.

Emboldened, Kuwait pressured Korea harder and induced the Taeguk Warriors to make inaccurate passes in their territory.

But Bae Jun-ho, who came on for Son, ended Kuwait’s hopes for the equalizer by taking a tidy shot inside the penalty area for goal No. 3 in the 74th minute. Hwang was key to that goal, as he made the through-the-needle pass for Bae.

Kuwait still made diligent movements and had the ball a few times in Korean territory, but could not overcome the defensive pressure led by Kim Min-jae, who was quick to react to anything and protected the 3-1 score through the final whistle.

Thursday’s win retains Korea’s top spot in Group B, where the group winners and runners-up directly qualify for the World Cup.

Korea will next face Palestine on Tuesday, Nov. 19 in another qualifier.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]