HARRISON, N.J. (AP) – Son Hyun Min scored in the 18th minute, setting the leadon Zeon goal in the 43rd, leading South Korea 2-0 on Saturday, leading South Korea 2-0 in another American home game where the crowds overwhelmingly supported visitors.
His son, who faced the team coached by former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, has won the 52nd international goal to move within six of Cha Bum-Kun’s Korean record.
The US fell 10-7 under Pockettino, with seven friendly matches remaining before the player was selected for his World Cup training camp.
The 15th place American has not won, losing six games in seven matches against the top 25 teams since beating Mexico in the 2024 CONCACAF NATIONS League final. They missed 11-2 in the first half of those games.
Preparing to co-host next year’s World Cup, the Americans will play Japan in Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday. South Korea will face Mexico in Nashville, Tennessee on Tuesday.
The US has once again encountered a crowd that looks like a road game, with most of its 26,500 fans cheering for Korea at their homes in the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer. Pockettino praised the enthusiasm of opposition fans last summer at the Conca Cuff Gold Cup match between Guatemala in St. Louis and Mexico in Houston.
South Korea, No. 23, who played in the 11th World Cup, went ahead when Lee Jae Sung gave the through ball when his son broke past defender Tristan Blackmon and beat goalkeeper Matt Freeze to the far post. South Korea doubled the lead when his son ran to Lee Jae Sung’s flick and fell Freeze. The ball rolled over to Lee Dongion and put the ball in the empty net with the back heel.
American Right Back Serguinho Desty After recovering from a torn right ACL since March 2024, 29-year-old defender Blackmon made his international debut and partnered with 37-year-old Tim Ream.
Josh Sargent started with the forward And since 2019 he has remained without goals in 17 international games. He was replaced in the 62nd minute. Farolin Balogunhe wasn’t playing under Pockettino. Balogun was suspended twice by Jo Heeon-Woo at downtime.
Christian Roldan also entered the 62ndhis first appearance since the 2023 Conca Cuff Gold Cup.
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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
