“Lee Kang-in’s passes are of a different quality”…genius against a two-line defense
“You need creativity.
He does this.” (Coach Klinsmann)
“Lee Kang-in’s passes are of a different quality.” (Commentator Kim Dae-gil)
‘Genius’ Lee Kang-in once again earned high praise from the experts as he led Korea to a 5-0 victory over Singapore in Group C (Korea, China, Thailand, Singapore) of the 2026 North American Football Championship Asia Second Qualifying Round at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Saturday with one goal and one assist.
After the game, Klinsmann said, “When you play a team that comes out defensively, you need to be creative.
You need players who can penetrate the penalty area, score goals, and play one-on-one.
He can do that,” Klinsmann praised Lee. “He can put the ball in the back of the net and finish for himself.”
The first goal of the game came in the last minute of the first half, with Singapore’s tight defense holding firm.
With 10 players on the field lined up two rows deep in front of the goalkeeper, penetration was not easy.
Commentator Kim Dae-gil said, “No matter how weak a team is, it’s hard to break down a team that is determined to defend from the front.”
For this reason, Son Heung-min’s free kick, Cho Kyu-sung’s volley, and Hwang Hee-chan, Hwang In-beom, and Lee Jae-sung’s bursts and mid-range shots failed to open the goal.
It was Lee Kang-in’s sharp behind-the-back pass in the 44th minute that opened the way for the one-sided attack (14-1 in shots in 90 minutes).
After receiving the ball from Son Heung-min, Lee played the ball into the space between the last line of defense and the goalkeeper on the right side of the opponent’s penalty area, where Cho Kyu-sung made a split-second run and rattled the net.
The goal was the beginning of Singapore’s collapse. Early in the second half, Hwang Hee-chan set off a fireworks display of goals, followed by Son Heung-min, Hwang Eui-jo, and Lee Kang-in to complete the rout.
Commentator Kim Dae-gil said, “The opponent’s defense lined up in two lines 10 meters apart and even added a goalkeeper, but Lee Kang-in’s kill pass opened up the space behind them. 토토사이트
The space for Korea to score increased from a narrow 20 meters to more than 40 meters,” he said.
Lee Kang-in’s single pass was crucial to the game.
Even when he has an opponent in front of him, he still manages to hit the ball with a “pop, pop, pop,” shaking, pushing, and sometimes shooting.
Commentator Kim Dae-gil said, “He has a different quality of passing and kicking,” and his heel kick to Seol Young-woo in the second half set the stage for the penalty.
“I’m really happy that the things he always emphasizes in training (regarding the circumstances of Cho’s first goal) came out well,” he told the Korean media after the game.
The coach’s plan to break down the back line has been realized through Lee Kang-in.
With four goals and two assists in his last three A matches, Lee is clearly a key part of the national team.
Against Singapore, it was Lee Kang-in and Son Heung-min who provided the solutions.
The 2026 World Cup qualifiers could see Lee at his peak.
Of course, he still needs to grow and improve.
“He should not only dribble, finish and assist, but he should also dedicate himself defensively,” Klinsmann said.
Lee Kang-in is not satisfied either.
“I don’t feel like I’m improving, but I’m trying to be a better player in every training session and every game,” he said before the second match against China (Nov. 21), a team with a higher level of play than Singapore.
I will continue to work hard to become a better player,” he emphasized.
