Jürgen Klinsmann’s first win in charge of Korea Republic remained elusive after suffering an unexpected blow.

Korea Republic men’s national team lost 1-0 against Peru in a friendly staged at Busan Asiad Main Stadium on Friday. Bryan Reyna’s opening goal on 11 minutes turned out to be the difference between the sides, with the South Americans holding a 2-1 advantage over the hosts in their head-to-head records. The Taegeuk Warriors will take on El Salvador in another friendly to take place in Daejeon on Tuesday.

It is fair to say that this squad was selected by the coach himself for the first time, considering the fact that he inherited virtually the same squad that had taken part in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 when he took over prior to the series of friendlies with Colombia and Uruguay in March. He has chosen these 25 men after closely monitoring the pool players in domestic and foreign leagues in the meantime, whilst calling up some new faces to fill the void in defence and midfield left by injured players.

In fact, Klinsmann made no fewer than six changes to the side that had faced Uruguay in March: Oh Hyeongyu and Hwang Heechan started up front; Lee Jaesung, Won Dujae, Hwang Inbeom and Lee Kangin in midfield; Lee Kije, Jung Seunghyun, Park Jisu and Ahn Hyunbeom at the back; and Kim Seunggyu between the sticks. Ahn made his international debut upon his first call-up, whilst Son Heungmin was rested on the bench with the captain recuperating from a recent surgery on sports hernia.

In the first A-match staged in Busan for three years and six months, a 52,443-strong crowd flocked to the stadium to support the Taegeuk Warriors. But the hosts struggled to find their rhythm in the opening exchanges, losing possession sometimes whilst trying to build up their play from the back. The visitor, for their part, capitalised on the defensive frailty and took the lead through Bryan Reyna after 11 minutes.

The hosts soon regrouped and fought back through individual efforts from Hwang Heechan and Lee Kangin. Hwang tried his luck after dribbling through the defenders in their first attack of note on 25 minutes, and moments later Lee Kangin sent a neat through ball into the path of Oh Hyeongyu whose shot went wide of the left post.

On 33 minutes, Lee Kangin’s left-footed effort from the right edge of the box was parried away by the Peruvian goalkeeper. Lee’s free-kick went off the wall on the stroke of half time, and then Jung Seunghyun’s glancing header off the resulting corner went just wide.

Klinsmann reshuffled his side during the interval, with winger Lee Jaesung switching positions with Hwang Heechan up front. Hwang marauded on the flanks to create chances from the left channel, whilst Lee moved into the centre to orchestrate the attack. Hwang did make the changes count on the hour mark, breaking from the side to send a low cross for Oh Hyeongyu only for the Celtic marksman to shoot straight at the goalkeeper.

The coach then made a double substitution on 63 minutes, as Cho Guesung and Hong Hyeonseok came off the bench to replace Oh Hyeongyu and Lee Jaesung respectively. It was Hong’s first international appearance, alongside Ahn Hyunbeom who also won his first cap in the evening.

A couple of chances followed after the changes midway through the second half: Lee Kangin’s header off a Hwang Heechan cross was denied by Peru goalkeeper, before Cho saw his glancing header off Lee’s cross swerve just wide of the left post.

Hwang Uijo then came off the bench to lead the attack alongside Cho in the closing minutes, but the Taegeuk Warriors could not find a breakthrough against the Peruvian rearguard.

National team friendly presented by Hana Bank

Korea Republic 0-1 Peru

Goal: Bryan Reyna 11’

KOR: Kim Seunggyu, Lee Kije (Park Gyuhyeon 85’), Jung Seunghyun, Park Jisu, Ahn Hyunbeom (Na Sangho 85’), Lee Jaesung (Hong Hyeonseok 63’), Won Dujae (Park Yongwoo 72’), Hwang Inbeom, Lee Kangin, Oh Hyeongyu (Cho Guesung 63’), Hwawng Heechan (Hwang Uijo 85’)