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Daejeon, South Korea — The South Korean Men's National Football Team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, achieved a vital 2-0 victory against a stubborn Bolivian side in an international friendly match held at the Daejeon World Cup Stadium on November 14, 2025. The win, sealed by a spectacular free-kick from captain Son Heung-min and an emotional comeback goal from Cho Gue-sung, maintains South Korea’s undefeated record (2 wins, 2 draws) against the South American nation.

Despite holding a significant advantage in the FIFA rankings (South Korea 22nd, Bolivia 76th), the host nation struggled to break down a compact Bolivian defense in the first half. Employing a 4-2-3-1 formation, the Taeguk Warriors dominated possession but lacked penetration, a challenge compounded by the absence of several key midfielders due to injury. Bolivia, though missing some regulars, posed a threat on the counter, with goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu forced into several crucial saves to keep the score level at the break.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 57th minute by the decisive action of Son Heung-min (LAFC). Earning a free-kick on the left side of the penalty arc, the forward curled a magnificent right-footed shot over the defensive wall and into the top-left corner of the net. This stunning strike marked Son's 7th free-kick goal in A-matches, drawing him level with Ji So-yun for the all-time national team record across both men's and women's football. It was also his 54th A-match goal overall, bringing him within four goals of Cha Bum-kun's all-time record of 58.

The goal provided the necessary momentum and platform for coach Hong Myung-bo to introduce a long-awaited substitute. In the 76th minute, Cho Gue-sung (Midtjylland) entered the field, replacing Son Heung-min. The appearance marked Cho's return to the national team after a challenging one year and eight months lay-off due to a knee injury and subsequent complications.

The target man wasted no time in making his presence felt. In the 88th minute, Cho pounced on a deflected cross from Kim Moon-hwan, showing fierce determination to poke the ball past the Bolivian goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra. The goal, Cho Gue-sung’s 10th in his 40th international appearance, was a moment of immense relief and significance, reaffirming his value as a unique attacking option for the squad.

The 2-0 victory provides a crucial boost in momentum for South Korea as they look to secure a favorable seeding pot for the upcoming FIFA World Cup draw. The team will face African powerhouse Ghana on November 18th in Seoul for their final A-match of the year. The win over Bolivia, though showing some room for improvement in midfield creativity, successfully delivered the "result" that the team had prioritized.

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