By Jon Duerden
Kim Shin-wook stole the headlines with four goals on Thursday in Hwaseong as South Korea thrashed Sri Lanka 8-0 to go top of Group H in the second round of qualification for the 2022 World Cup.
An easy evening was expected and so it turned out. It was a perfect warm-up for next Tuesday's qualifier against North Korea in Pyongyang with strikers getting among the goals and the defense keeping a clean sheet. The outcome was not in doubt even before the game kicked-off against the team ranked 202 in the world.
By half-time it was 5-0 to the Taeguk Warriors.
Son Heung-min got the ball rolling after ten minutes. The Tottenham Hotspur star rolled the ball into the South Asian net from the edge of the area to score the first goal for his country since March against Colombia. Seven minutes later, Kim Shin-wook was given a chance he could not miss and the Shanghai Shenhua striker scored from close range.
Then Hwang Hee-chan got in on the act after 20 minutes to end the game as a contest. the in-form Salzburg star headed home the perfect corner from Lee Kang-in. On the half-hour Kim Moon-hwan swung over the perfect cross and there was Kim Shin-wook to head his second and Korea's fourth. Not long before the break Son scored from the penalty spot.
Nine minutes into the second half and Kim completed his hat-trick and then took his personal tally for the night to four after 64 minutes.
There was still time for substitute Kwon Chang-hoon to add an eighth goal.
It was not a very pleasant experience for Sri Lanka but it is to be hoped that the South Asians at least gained some valuable experience from playing against English Premier League stars such as Son.
For the home team, thoughts now turn to next week and what will be a much more difficult game in Pyongyang. The Sri Lanka clash was valuable however as it enabled forwards such as Hwang Hee-chan and Kim Shin-wook to get some target practice in. Their form will give coach Paulo Bento plenty to think about. When competition for places is fierce, it can only be a good thing.
There will be fewer chances to score in North Korea and there will need to be some ruthlessness in front of goal. Next Tuesday will be much tougher than Thursday but as World Cup qualifiers go, there won't be many easier opponents than Sri Lanka.
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