'The ace of the Korean national team' Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) bowed his head again.

The soccer team led by Coach Hong Myung-bo (56) drew 1-1 with Jordan in the '2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup Asian region third qualifying round Group B match' held at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 25th at 8 p.m.

Having drawn both home matches, first place South Korea (4 wins, 4 draws, 16 points) is now being pursued by second place Jordan (3 wins, 4 draws, 1 loss, 13 points) by 3 points. South Korea's early qualification for the World Cup finals has also become a mirage.

Son Heung-min started as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Jumin Kyu, who started in the match against Oman, was dropped from the roster due to poor condition. Coach Hong Myung-bo brought Son Heung-min to the forefront with Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Jae-sung, and Lee Dong-kyu as the second line.

It took only 5 minutes for Son Heung-min to shake off his slump. In the 5th minute of the first half, a corner kick delivered by Son Heung-min led to Lee Jae-sung's opening header goal. The two friends from the 92 line celebrated their first goal together.

However, Son Heung-min could not smile either. In the 30th minute of the first half, a mistake by Park Yong-woo allowed a counterattack in the midfield. Mahmoud Al-Mardi scored a devastating equalizer.

After the match, Son Heung-min said, 'Although the result is disappointing, the fact that we are still in first place in the group cannot be denied. I will do my best to maintain our position until the end.'

Son Heung-min did not become complacent after the opening goal. He noted, 'I told the players to focus a bit more. Soccer is a sport to score goals. Scoring a goal is also the most challenging task. We created a good situation early on, so I hope we can continue to dominate the game until the end.'

South Korea is struggling at home with 1 win and 3 draws. Captain Son Heung-min feels responsible. He stated, 'The players' efforts simply do not reflect where they should be. We are clearly disappointed with the game results. I saw friends who came from afar struggling with jet lag, dozing off on the bus on their way to training. I felt proud yet sad watching the younger players. It’s disheartening not to be compensated. Ultimately, it’s everyone’s responsibility,' demonstrating his leadership.

In the match against Oman, the grass at Goyang Stadium posed a problem. Son Heung-min mentioned, 'We can do better. When we are at home, if the grass hinders us, I wonder where to find a solution. Many people might think it's just an excuse, but for soccer players, even the smallest detail can determine the outcome. This is extremely important to us. I hope everyone pays attention to these matters. It's frustrating that soccer players cannot fully exhibit their skills in a good environment.'

Now, South Korea will embark on an away game to Iraq in June, where qualification for the World Cup finals will be determined. Son Heung-min reassured fans, stating, 'It remains a fact that we are in first place. If we show a better performance, we will finish in first place.'

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