Cymru prepared for their EURO 2024 qualifier against Latvia with a goalless draw with South Korea at the Cardiff City Stadium.
The opening 45 minutes saw both teams enjoy good spells of possession but rarely able to threaten the other. Harry Wilson and Heung-Min Son both forced saves from Seunggyu Kim and Danny Ward but both teams lacked the cutting edge.
After a quick start from Cymru to the second half Korea started to gain a foothold and forced the hosts deeper. Korea had serval chances but failed to hit the target. Cymru came back with sub Kieffer Moore hitting the post. Joe Rodon saw a header saved as the Welsh side came back into the game. Rob Page’s team had more chances late on, but Korea held firm.
Cymru will now head to Latvia for a critical Euro 2024 qualifier on Monday.
Cymru’s first big chance fell to Harry Wilson, Nathan Broadhead with some good work though the middle-sent Wilson in on goal. Under pressure from a defender the Fulham player was able to get a shot off, but it was well saved by Seunggyu Kim.
Heung-Min Son tried to pull some magic off for Korea as he tried from just outside the box, but his effort was charged down and blocked.
Brennan Johnson won a corner as Cymru broke forward, his cross getting blocked. Wilson took the corner and swung the ball towards the penalty spot where Ben Davies met it. Davies couldn’t keep his header down and it went over.
Hyunseok Hong would have given the visitors the lead if he had been able to connect with a fast low cross from the left.
Son was looking the danger man for Rob Page’s side as he went for goal again. Son hit a curling shot from the left, but his effort was close to Danny Ward who made a comfortable save.
Wilson again forced Kim into action firing a shot from outside the box. Wilson’s effort was low but to close to Kim.
Half Time: Cymru 0-0 Korea Republic
Korea were working the ball around well and Guesung Cho hit a back heal to the edge of the box fining Son. Son unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box, but it kept rising and went safely over Danny Ward’s crossbar.
Korea were pushing Cymru back and soon had another chance as Inbeom Hwang cut in for the left. He hit a low shot at goal, but it went just wide of the near post.
Chris Mepham made a run to the touchline down the right and put a cross into the six-yard box. Kieffer Moore, on as a half time sub rose to met it but his effort came back off the post.
Joe Rodon forced Kim to be sharpe to save his downward header from an Aaron Ramsey corner.
Wes Burns tried his luck at goal after cutting in from the left, he hit a curling shot that went over.
Burns then played a well-timed pass into the box to Ben Davies. Davies whipped a shot across goal that needed a strong hand from a diving Kim to turn away.
Despite a couple of late headers from Moore the ended goalless.
Full Time: Cymru 0-0 Korea Republic
Cymru: Danny Ward (G), Connor Roberts, Chris Mepham, Joe Rodon, Ben Davies ©, Neco Williams (Wes Burns 60), Ethan Ampadu (Joe Morrell 46), Jordan James (Josh Sheehan 60), Harry Wilson (Aaron Ramsey 60), Nathan Broadhead (David Brooks 72), Brennan Johnson (Keiffer Moore 46).
Korea: Seunggyu Kim (G), Kije Lee, Minjae Kim, Yongwoo Park, Inbeom Hwang (Soonmin Lee 60 Donggyeong Lee 83)), Heung-Min Son ©, Guesung Cho (Uijo Hwang 73), Jaesung Lee (Hyunjun Yang 73), Seunghyun Jung, Youngwoo Seol, Hyunseok Hong (Heuchan Hwang 60).
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