Uli Stielike’s S. Korean squad blanks Jamaica 3-0, now 13-1-3 for the year

October 13, 2015

Ji Dong-won shines

Ji Dong-won heads in the first goal in a friendly match against Jamaica at Seoul World Cup Stadium, Tuesday. (Yonhap)

Ji Dong-won heads in the first goal in a friendly match against Jamaica at Seoul World Cup Stadium, Tuesday. (Yonhap)

SEOUL (Yonhap) — South Korea blanked Jamaica 3-0 in a soccer friendly at home on Tuesday, extending a run of solid play of late.

Ji Dong-won, Ki Sung-yueng and Hwang Ui-jo each scored a goal to lift the 53rd-ranked South Korea over No. 57 Jamaica at Seoul World Cup Stadium, improving their all-time record over Jamaica to two wins and a draw.

Coached by Uli Stielike, South Korea moved to 13 wins, three draws and one loss in 2015. That lone defeat came in the AFC Asian Cup final against Australia in January.

South Korea haven’t given up a goal in their last four matches and allowed just one in their last nine contests.

Forward Ji Dong-won opened the scoring with a header in the 35th minute, his first international goal in more than four years.

South Korea had a couple of chances early on, with midfielder Han Kook-young just missing the mark in the second minute and striker Hwang Ui-jo firing one just wide of the left post in the 15th.

Midfielder Ki Sung-yueng had a shot go off a defender in the 21st and sent one over the bar from the area 11 minutes later.

Hwang was even less fortunate, hitting the bar in the 39th, but South Korea kept the pressure on to open the second half.

Ji drew the penalty in the 55th minute and Ki Sung-yueng converted it for a 2-0 lead.

Hwang finally got on board in the 64th, pouncing on the rebound after Ji’s hard shot was turned aside.