The son wants more goals as the Koreans remain focused on their place in the World Cup
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South Korea entered the second half of next year’s World Cup qualifiers for Asia on Tuesday as captain Son Heung-min tried to shake up his team’s goal fights as Iraq faced Doha.
Paulo Bento’s team has been on track to maintain its World Cup qualifying record since 1986, despite being able to turn its dominance into a goal.
Despite Son’s narrow 1-0 win over the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, the company showed that the Tottenham striker was one of three players to hit the woodwork as the Koreans consolidated their second place in Group A.
“Obviously we’re not trying to win every game 1-0,” Son said before his team went to Dick Advocaat’s meeting in Iraq. “The advantages of a single goal are always difficult to play. Our opponents work as hard as we do, and winning is more important than anything.”
The goals have been very important for the Koreans, who have scored five times in the last five rounds so far, Son has scored a late winner against Syria and drawn Iran 1-1 in Tehran.
France, after beating Belgium, have qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup
But despite Bento’s team being far from prolific, the Koreans are undefeated with three wins and two draws and are second in Group A, two points behind Iran.
With the first two qualifiers in the team guaranteed to move up to Qatar in 2022, the Koreans are well positioned to qualify, as they are six points clear of Lebanon, which is ranked third, with five games to go.
The Iranians retained first place in the group on Thursday after overturning a one-goal lead between Sardar Azmounen and Ahmed Nourollah. They travel to Amman to fight Syria.
The Syrians, who narrowly lost their place in the 2018 World Cup, have yet to win the final round of the playoffs for Qatar in Asia and sit at the bottom of the standings.
Although Iran and South Korea stand firm in the top two, the fight for the third – and a place in the playoffs – is tight.
The United Arab Emirates, the fifth largest Lebanon, is three points behind the Syrians, while Iraqis are still competing.
In Group B, the top has a lower face as the Saudi leader faces a Vietnam team that has yet to concede a point, while second-placed Australia will look for a repeat of what China has previously won and will meet in Sharjah (BAC).
Third-placed Japan, meanwhile, will claim their third consecutive victory when they travel to Muscat to face Oman, who lost in their first match of September.
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