▲ South Korean players react to a goal by Ghana during the countries' Group H match at the FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, west of Doha, on Nov. 28, 2022. (Yonhap)
▲ Son Heung-min of South Korea (C) is surrounded by three players for Ghana, Inaki Williams, Tariq Lamptey and Thomas Partey (L to R), during the countries' Group H match at the FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, west of Doha, on Nov. 28, 2022. (Yonhap)
▲ Mohammed Kudus of Ghana (No. 2) scores the team's third goal against South Korea during the countries' Group H match at the FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, west of Doha, on Nov. 28, 2022. (Yonhap)
▲ South Korea forward Cho Gue-sung reacts to a goal by Ghana during the teams' Group H match at the FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, west of Doha, on Nov. 28, 2022. (Yonhap)
▲ Kim Moon-hwan of South Korea (L) and Jordan Ayew of Ghana battle for the ball during the teams' Group H match at the FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, west of Doha, on Nov. 28, 2022. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) (World Cup) S Korea-performance

(LEAD) (World Cup) S. Korea defense badly exposed against athletic Ghana

(ATTN: ADDS comments throughout, photos)

By Yoo Jee-ho

AL RAYYAN, Qatar, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- With their best center back playing through a leg injury, South Korea's defense was thoroughly exposed against Ghana in their 3-2 loss Monday.

Mohammed Kudus scored twice and Mohammed Salisu had the other goal for Ghana at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, west of Doha, handing South Korea their first defeat in Group H play at this year's World Cup.

All three goals were set up with passes from the flanks. It was Jordan Ayew's free kick from the left wing that Salisu headed in for the opener, and Kudus beat South Korean defenders to the ball to head home a cross, again by Ayew, later in the first half for a 2-0 lead.

Kudus' second goal came after a broken play, after Inaki Williams fanned on a shot after Gideon Mensah crossed from the left wing. The misfire seemed to fool Korean defenders, and Kudus, left alone on the other side of the box, easily slotted the ball home to break a 2-2 tie.

For South Korea, center back Kim Min-jae played on Monday with his injured right calf taped. He'd picked up the muscle injury against Uruguay during their goalless draw last Thursday. Kim missed two straight days of training before getting into only light cardio workouts Sunday. He was a game time decision, though there was little doubt Kim, short of a more serious injury, would miss such an important contest at the World Cup.

Led by Kim, the South Korean defense corps had effectively shut down some dangerous Uruguayan attackers. They came away feeling confident they could also contain Ghana, who had put up a good fight before losing to Portugal 3-2 last week.

But the air went out of South Korea's balloon midway through the first half. On Ayew's free kick, Kim failed to clear the ball with his head and the ball landed on Salisu's feet.

For Kudus' first goal, the cross sailed over Kim's head and the goal scorer beat fullback Kim Jin-su to the ball. Ayew was allowed to roam on the left side barely touched.

South Korea also had issues with their gap control on the game-winning goal, as Mensah found plenty of time and space to send a cross to the box unchallenged.

Left fullback Kim Jin-su blamed himself for the decisive goal, saying he had a lapse in judgment in leaving Kudus alone to receive Mensah's pass and score.

"I didn't help the team, and it really weighs on me now," Kim said. "I am just devastated that we lost today."

At the opposite end, right fullback Kim Moon-hwan also had a rough day, struggling to contain Jordan Ayew.

"Technically and physically, he was really good," Kim said of his opponent. "And I didn't have it today. After we went down by two goals in the first half, we didn't want to concede any more goals and we felt we could catch them. We drew even but ended up giving the final goal. I am really disappointed."

With Kim Min-jae not at 100 percent, reserve center back Kwon Kyung-won replaced him during stoppage time. Though Kwon was not on the field for any Ghana goal, he still took responsibility for the loss.

"I wanted to help the team more," Kwon said. "When we give up goals, it's never on any individual. It was a team mistake, not an individual error."

Midfielder Na Sang-ho, who came off the bench to begin the second half, also said the entire team, not any one player, is to blame for the game winner.

"We all have to take responsibility for that goal," Na said. "We showed our fight in battling back from the deficit, but that last goal was really disappointing."

Ghana had their own defensive issues, as attested by Cho Gue-sung's two-goal effort in a three-minute span. But on the offensive side, the Ghanaians were faster, more athletic, more clinical and more efficient than their opponents.

South Korea won the possession battle, 52 percent to 31 percent, and put six shots on target to Ghana's three. But the inability to translate that possession edge into goals reared its ugly head for South Korea at the most inopportune time.

(END)

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