PSG's Lee Kang-in scores twice in South Korea's 3-1 win against Bahrain in the Asian Cup
Mon, Jan 15, 2024
Soccer News (AP)
AL-RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) - Two goals from Paris Saint-Germain winger Lee Kang-in helped South Korea to a 3-1 win against Bahrain in the Asian Cup on Monday.
With the Group E game tied at 1-1 at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Lee took control with two moments of individual brilliance.
He gave South Korea a 2-1 lead in the 56th-minute with a left-footed shot from around 30 yards (meters) to beat Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfallah.
He was equally clinical as he scored his second goal 12 minutes later when showing sharp footwork and curling the ball into the bottom corner.
Hwang In-beom had given South Korea a first half lead with a goal in the 38th, but Bahrain equalized six minutes after the break through Abdullah Al Hashash.
Two time champion South Korea hadn't conceded a goal in its last six Asian Cup group games, spanning the past two tournaments. But that record was put under threat early on when an unmarked Mohamed Marhoon headed over from close range.
It was the first of a number of missed chances for both teams until Hwang's opener.
South Korea's Cho Gue-sung fired over with only the keeper to beat and Lee Jae-sung also missed the target at the far post.
Bahrain's Ali Madan shot wide after bursting into the box.
It was Hwang who finally delivered a precise finish as South Korea went ahead - sweeping a shot past Lutfallah after Lee's cross.
Bahrain continued to create openings in the second half and Komail Al Aswad forced a save from Kim Seung-gyu before Al Hashash struck with a side-footed finish from inside the box.
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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
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