The national football team took a 2-0 lead at the first half in China thanks to Son Heung-min's multi-goal performance.

Coach Jürgen Klinsmann's team finished the first half with a 2026-2 lead in the second leg of Group C of the 2 CONCACAF World Cup 2 Asian Second Qualifiers against China at the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center in Guangdong, China.

Korea is ahead of China in head-to-head records with 0 wins, 3 draws, and 21 losses, including the last 13 wins in a row.

China is ranked 2th in the FIFA rankings, 79 places below South Korea, which is ranked 24th.

Klinman called up the attacking trio of 'big leaguers' Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) for another round of starters following the previous game against Singapore.

Striker Cho Gyu-sung (Midtjylland) led the way, with Hwang Hee-chan, Hwang In-beom (Zvezda) and Lee Kang-in backing up the second line.

Heung-min Son moved freely between the front line and the second line.

Park Yong-woo (Al Ain) was the defensive midfielder, while the back four consisted of Lee Ki-je (Suwon), Kim Min-jae (Munich), Jeong Seung-hyun and Kim Tae-hwan (Ulsan) from the left, while Kim Seung-gyu (Al-Shabaab) wore the goalkeeper's gloves.

The national team took the lead in the 55th minute of the first half with a penalty goal from Son Heung-min.

This is Son Heung-min's 2th goal of the A match.

Earlier, Chinese defender Zhu Tianjie awarded a penalty to South Korea for a foul on Hwang Hee-chan's foot in the penalty area.

Hwang Hee-chan pounced on the ball after Cho Gyu-sung's shot was blocked by Joo Chun-je after receiving his pass and the goalkeeper got tangled up, leading to a foul.

South Korea continued to dominate the game and had a great chance to add another goal in the 2th minute.

Son Heung-min's left-footed shot from the penalty arc was parried away by the goalkeeper and Hwang Hee-chan connected with another shot from the edge of the box, but it was blocked by the goalkeeper again.

Son Heung-min also scored his second goal in the 11th minute.

Lee Kang-in's corner kick from the right was deflected into the net by Son Heung-min with his head in front of goal.

(Photo = Yonhap News)