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South Korea disappoints with World Cup “Ghana-mana” performance

June 9, 2014

Takes 4-0 drubbing to end prep on a sour note

*Ganamana – means “no point in going” in Korean

South Korean GK Jung Sung-ryong, left, is dejected after allowing fourth goal of the match against Ghana in Florida Monday. (Yonhap)

S. Korean GK Jung Sung-ryong is dejected after allowing fourth goal of the match against Ghana in Florida Monday. (Yonhap)

South Korea suffered an alarming 4-0 loss on Monday in their final test before the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

At Sun Life stadium in Miami, Florida, South Korea got completely outclassed by Ghana.

South Korea’s manager Hong Myung-bo made two changes from his team’s 1-0 loss to Tunisia on May 27, to strengthen defense. Kwak Tae-hwi and Kim Chang-soo replaced Hong Jeong-ho and Lee Yong respectively, but the problem only ended up getting worse.

South Koreans did win the time of possession battle, but they just could not handle Ghana’s counter-attack.

The match started in unfortunate fashion with Ki Sung-yueng injuring Abdul Majeed Waris in the third minute with a rough sliding tackle on the halfway line. That move actually came back to bite the Koreans, as Waris was substituted with Jordan Ayew, who went strike a hat-trick.

For Koreans, Son Heung-min hitting the post hurt, and Kwak connected on Kim Young-gwon’s cross to actually find the back of the net, but it was ruled that the ball went off Kwak’s arm and not his head.

The South Koreans will travel to Foz do Iguacu, their Brazilian base camp, and will open Group H action against Russia on June 17 in Cuiaba, about 1,120 kilometers north of Foz do Iguacu.

South Korea will be playing in its eighth consecutive World Cup and has won its opening group stage match in each of the past three editions.