After a steady defensive performance in a clean sheet win over a tough Jordanian side, Cho Yoo-min (Sharjah) is being touted as the new central defense partner for ‘Iron Pillar’ Kim Min-jae (Munich).
Head coach Hong Myung-bo’s South Korea national soccer team scored a first-half goal from Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) and a second-half goal from Oh Hyun-kyu (Henk) to defeat Jordan 2-0 in their third match of Group B of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 North and Central American World Cup at the Amman International Stadium in Amman, Jordan, on Nov. 11 (KST).
With their second straight win in three qualifiers after the draw against Palestine, South Korea moved to the top of Group B with seven points, 토토사이트 모음 ahead of Jordan (four).
One of the biggest reasons for the victory, which avenged a humiliating 0-2 loss in the Asian Cup semifinals, was a solid defense.
Kim Min-jae, who wore the captain’s armband in place of Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) who was out with a hamstring injury, led a solid defensive line, while Jo Yoo-min, who played in the center of the defense, showed stability and emerged as a strong candidate to become Kim’s partner in the Wuzhou Gongguk.
Since the inception of Hong Myung-baek, Kim’s partners have changed.
Kim Young-kwon (Ulsan) partnered Kim in the first match against Palestine last month and Jung Seung-hyun (Al Wasl) in the second match against Oman, both of which were hard to give a passing grade.
Notably, there appeared to be a generational change in the central defense line as Hong Myung-bo excluded veteran defender Kim Young-kwon, who had been paired with Kim Min-jae since the days of Paulo Bento, from the squad.
There were other young and promising options at center back, including Kim Joo-sung (FC Seoul) and Lee Han-beom (Mitwillan), both born in 2000, but Hong’s choice was Cho Yoo-min.
Born in 1996, Cho is the same age as Kim Min-Jae, and his steady defense at the back helped Hong Myung-Bo secure a clean sheet.
He was no pushover in one-on-one battles with his opponents, and his excellent buildup was a key part of the national team’s offense.
Cho Yoo-min, who has already proven his worth with the national team, having been named to the final roster for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, is not tall (184 cm), but he made his mark on Hongmyungpo with his excellent positioning and forward passing.
Stability is more important than change, especially in the center of defense, and it will be interesting to see if the Kim-Min-Jae-Jo combination, which received a passing grade against Jordan, can continue to be used in the future.