USA 0-2 Korea Republic Player Ratings: Son Heung-min 8.5/10 Rated as Korea Defeat USA 2-0

Korea Republic delivered a clinical and commanding performance to secure a 2-0 victory over a lackluster United States side. This international friendly match was played at the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. The Korean team made it feel one-sided from early on. The visitors looked sharper, more organized, and far more dangerous in the final third. It was the Korean legend Heung-min Son who broke the deadlock. He found the net in the 18th minute with a smart finish from a tight angle. From our perspective, the US defense just couldn't handle his movement. Before the hosts could even think about a halftime regroup, Dong-gyeong Lee doubled the lead with a well-taken goal, effectively ending the contest.

The second half saw the United States make a flurry of changes, but they failed to truly trouble the Korean defense. While they had moments and a few late chances, goalkeeper Hyeon-woo Jo was exceptional when called upon. Ultimately, it was a deserved win for Korea Republic in this Friendly International encounter, leaving the USA with plenty of questions to answer. Here are the USA vs Korea Republic player ratings.

Korea Republic National Football Team Player Ratings vs USA

Here are the Korea Republic player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Hyeon-woo Jo - 8.0: What a fantastic performance from the shot-stopper. He was called upon to make five saves and every single one was crucial, especially the flurry of stops late in the game. From our perspective, he commanded his area with absolute confidence. His distribution was solid, and he was a major reason for the clean sheet. A truly commanding display.

Defenders

Han-beom Lee - 7.0: A solid and composed outing from the defender. He worked well alongside his partners at the back, making five important clearances to relieve pressure. His passing was tidy, boasting an 82% accuracy. He was strong in his duels and didn't seem flustered at any point during the game.

Min-jae Kim - 7.5: A rock at the back as we've come to expect. He read the game brilliantly, making four key interceptions and winning most of his duels. An error that led to a shot was the only minor blemish on an otherwise imperious performance. His presence brought a real sense of calm to the backline.

Tae-seok Lee - 6.5: A bit of a mixed bag for the defender. He showed great willingness to get forward and support attacks, even having a shot of his own. However, he was sometimes caught out defensively and was dribbled past on two occasions. He also lost possession more than he would have liked, but it was a decent shift overall.

Ju-sung Kim - 7.5: We were very impressed with this display before he was substituted. He was perfect in his defensive duels, winning all three he contested. His three interceptions and two blocked shots were crucial in breaking up USA attacks. He looked incredibly composed on the ball for his entire time on the pitch.

Young-woo Seol - 7.0: A really solid and reliable performance. He didn't put a foot wrong defensively, winning his only duel and making four interceptions. What stood out to us was his excellent positioning throughout his 83 minutes. He was a steady and dependable presence on the field.

Midfielders

Seung-ho Paik - 7.0: The quiet controller in the heart of midfield. He kept possession ticking over beautifully, completing 92% of his passes. He put in a disciplined shift, winning five of his seven duels and providing a solid screen for his defense. A very intelligent and understated performance for the full 90 minutes.

Jae-sung Lee - 8.0: He was a massive creative influence during his time on the pitch. He provided a brilliant assist and created another big chance, showing his vision and quality. His link-up play was a joy to watch and he was a constant problem for the opposition. It was a shame his game was cut short by a knock.

Dong-gyeong Lee - 8.0: Scored the crucial second goal with an excellent, composed finish that killed the game. Beyond his goal, he was a genuine threat, getting both of his shots on target and looking lively. He was a key part of his team's first-half dominance. A very effective and impactful outing.

Jin-gyu Kim - 6.5: It was a steady, if unspectacular, performance from him. He was very neat in possession, rarely giving the ball away. However, he didn't offer much of a threat going forward, playing it safe for the most part. Did his job for the team without any real fuss before being substituted.

Forwards

Heung-min Son - 8.5: The undisputed Man of the Match and the best player on the pitch by a mile. He scored the vital opening goal with a classy finish and also grabbed an assist. His quality and leadership were evident every time he touched the ball. The USA defense simply had no answer for his movement and skill. What a player.

Substitutes

Substitutes - N/A: Several substitutes came on in the second half. They helped maintain the team's structure and see out the victory professionally. They ensured there was no drop in intensity.

Manager

M. Hong - 8.0: He got his tactics absolutely spot on. His team was organized, disciplined, and utterly clinical in the first half which won them the game. He managed the second half perfectly, making changes to ensure his side saw out the 2-0 win comfortably. An excellent day at the office.

USA National Football Team Player Ratings vs Korea Republic

Here are the USA player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Matt Freese - 6.0: It was a difficult night for the goalkeeper. From our perspective, he couldn't have done much about either of the two goals he conceded. He did make a couple of decent saves to keep the scoreline respectable. He received very little help from the defenders in front of him.

Defenders

Sergiño Dest - 5.0: A really poor performance that he'll want to forget quickly. He was a liability defensively, losing seven of his eleven duels and looking completely lost at times. He offered very little going forward to make up for his defensive frailties. It was no surprise to see him substituted.

Tim Ream - 5.5: The captain had a very tough evening. He struggled to cope with the pace and intelligent movement of the Korean forwards. We noticed he was caught out of position on a few occasions and just looked off the pace. A difficult outing for the veteran.

Tristan Blackmon - 6.5: Probably the best performer in a struggling backline. He was strong in his duels, winning four out of six, and made a number of important clearances. Despite his individual effort, he was still part of a defensive unit that was breached far too easily. He did his best in a difficult situation.

Maximilian Arfsten - 6.0: A very quiet game for him. He was tidy on the ball, with a 91% pass accuracy, but he didn't provide much penetration or defensive solidity. He did his job but didn't really impact the game in a meaningful way. An average performance all around.

Midfielders

Tyler Adams - 5.5: He just couldn't get a foothold in the game at all. The midfield battle was lost early, and he was largely overrun. His passing wasn't as sharp as we normally see from him. He was substituted after an hour, having made very little impact on the proceedings.

D. Luna - 6.0: He was neat and tidy in possession, boasting a very high pass completion rate. The issue was that he played it far too safe, rarely attempting a forward pass that could unlock the Korean defense. He needed to be braver and more creative.

Sebastian Berhalter - 6.5: One of the few US players who showed some genuine fight and intent. He managed to get a shot on target and was involved in creating a chance. However, he also lost possession 15 times which undermined some of his good work. A mixed but energetic performance.

Christian Pulisic - 6.0: Frustrating is the only word for his performance. He was constantly trying to make things happen, taking four shots and creating three chances. But his final product was missing, and he lost possession a staggering 24 times. It felt like he was trying to do too much on his own.

Timothy Weah - 5.5: He was almost a ghost before going off injured just after the hour mark. He had a couple of wayward shots and was caught offside once. He offered very little threat and struggled to get involved in the game in any meaningful way.

Forwards

Josh Sargent - 5.5: It was a thankless task for the striker. He was completely isolated up front and starved of any real service or support. He worked hard and won a few duels, but it's tough to rate him when he had absolutely nothing to work with. He was a passenger for most of the match.

Substitutes

Substitutes - N/A: A raft of substitutes were introduced in the second half. While they brought some fresh energy, they couldn't significantly alter the flow of the match. The damage had already been done.

Manager

M. Pochettino Trossero - 5.0: A bad day at the office for the manager. His team looked lost and lacked a clear game plan, especially in attack. The defensive setup was fragile and easily exploited in the first half. His second-half changes failed to inspire a comeback, leaving more questions than answers.