Why Son Heung-min’s Record Chase Gives South Korea vs Uruguay Extra Weight
South Korea’s friendly against Uruguay carries real stakes: Son Heung-min is one goal from the country’s all-time men’s scoring record, Robert Moreno is testing a new 4-4-2, and Uruguay are led by an interim Diego Forlán.
One Goal Short of the Mark
South Korea and Uruguay meet at Seoul World Cup Stadium in a friendly that could rewrite one line of the national team’s record books. Son Heung-min needs one goal to draw level with Cha Bum-kun at the top of South Korea’s men’s scoring list. According to MK Sports, Son has scored 57 goals in 148 A internationals. Cha, a former national team coach, set the standard with 58 goals in 136 matches.
If Son scores against Uruguay, he joins Cha in first place, as Star News reported. That milestone would land in front of a home crowd at Seoul World Cup Stadium, giving the occasion a sharper edge than a typical exhibition match.
Moreno Keeps the Two-Striker Attack
Coach Robert Moreno used a 4-4-2 in his first match in charge, and he has kept that shape for Uruguay. The South Korea lineup reported by Star News pairs Son with Oh Hyun-gyu in attack. Lee Kang-in, Kim Bong-soo, Hwang Hee-chan and Lee Jae-sung start in midfield. Kim Min-jae anchors a defense that also includes Seol Young-woo, Lee Tae-seok and Lee Han-beom, with goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu behind them.
The formation matters for Son. Instead of playing as a lone forward or cutting in from the wing, he has a strike partner to share the defensive attention. That freedom is exactly what a player chasing a scoring record wants.
Moreno’s start has been good. His first game ended in a 3-0 win over Ecuador, with goals from Oh Hyun-gyu, Son Heung-min and Lee Dong-gyeong, according to Star News. A result against Uruguay would give him two wins from two.
Uruguay Under an Interim Boss
Uruguay arrive in a less settled state. Diego Forlán, the former striker, is serving as interim coach after Uruguay lost 3-1 to Japan in their most recent friendly. They were level at 1-1 until late in that match, according to Star News. Forlán’s lineup includes Darwin Núñez, Lucas Torreira, Rodrigo Bentancur and Giorgian de Arrascaeta, a core of experienced internationals.
A Benchmark for a New Coach
The Uruguay friendly is one game in a longer run. Moreno still has Venezuela and Uzbekistan on the schedule in the same international window, according to MK Sports. That makes Uruguay a benchmark for how far South Korea have come under the new coach.
Recent meetings between the two nations have been close. South Korea won a 2018 friendly, the teams drew 0-0 at the 2022 World Cup, and Uruguay won a 2023 friendly, per BBC Sport. The pattern suggests another tight night. If Son’s goal arrives, the night will be remembered for more than the outcome.