Klinsmann still awaits first win as Uruguay beats SKorea 2-1

South Korea's head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, center, celebrates after Hwang In-beom scored during an international friendly soccer match between South Korea and Uruguay in Seoul, Sough Korea, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Jurgen Klinsmann is still waiting for his first win as head coach of South Korea after Uruguay triumphed 2-1 in a friendly played at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Tuesday.

The former Germany and U.S. coach was appointed last month and his first match in charge was a 2-2 home draw with Colombia last week.

After South Korea progressed to the second round of last year’s World Cup at the expense of Uruguay, the result in Seoul provided some measure of revenge for the visiting team.

The meeting between the two teams at the World Cup in Qatar ended 0-0 but it only took Sebastian Coates 10 minutes to open the scoring for Uruguay this time, after he rose above the Korean defense to head home a corner from Federico Valverde.

Six minutes into the second half, midfielder Hwang In-beom fired home a shot from inside the penalty area. But Lazio’s Matias Vecino grabbed the winner in the 63rd , scoring from close range after goalkeeper C“Kang-in, I think, is a very, very special talent, and they only could stop him with fouls,” Klinsmann was quoted saying by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. “Because it’s a friendly game, they didn’t want to give too many yellow cards.”

For his part, Lee can already see the benefits of the new coach’s approach.

“Coach Klinsmann loves an aggressive brand of football, and we’re still in the process of learning his ways,” Lee said. “We will have more important matches coming up, and I think a match like today’s will help us then.”

Japan and Australia, which also reached the second round of the 2022 World Cup, fell to home defeats against South American opposition.

Despite taking a third-minute lead in Osaka against Colombia thanks to a powerful header from Brighton’s in-form winger Kaoru Mitoma, Japan was beaten 2-1.

Colombia equalized just after the half-hour through Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran before Rafael Borre sealed the victory with a spectacular overhead kick on 61 minutesho Hyun-woo parried a Joaquin Piquerez free-kick.

With six minutes remaining, Kim Young-gwon headed home but the goal was ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper.

Lee Kang-in had a productive game in midfield, creating some chances including the opportunity for Kim, allowing Klinsmann to put a positive spin on the game.

“Kang-in, I think, is a very, very special talent, and they only could stop him with fouls,” Klinsmann was quoted saying by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. “Because it’s a friendly game, they didn’t want to give too many yellow cards.”

For his part, Lee can already see the benefits of the new coach’s approach.

Japan and Australia, which also reached the second round of the 2022 World Cup, fell to home defeats against South American opposition.

Despite taking a third-minute lead in Osaka against Colombia thanks to a powerful header from Brighton’s in-form winger Kaoru Mitoma, Japan was beaten 2-1.

Colombia equalized just after the half-hour through Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran before Rafael Borre sealed the victory with a spectacular overhead kick on 61 minutes.

Just four days after beating Ecuador 3-1 in Sydney, Australia lost to the same opposition 2-1 in Melbourne.

Brandon Borrello put the Socceroos ahead after 16 minutes but two second-half goals, the first a Pervis Estupinan penalty and the second from William Pacho after 65, gave Ecuador the win.