Ecuadorian Media Praise Son Heung-min After Korea’s 3-0 Victory

South Korea national football team captain Son Heung-min scored his 57th international goal during a 3-0 friendly win against Ecuador on September 24 at Suwon World Cup Stadium, leaving him just one strike away from matching Cha Bum-kun’s record of 58 goals.

The Bottom Line

• Historical Milestone: Son secured his 57th international goal, moving within a single goal of Cha Bum-kun’s national record of 58.
• Tactical Dominance: Operating as a central striker under interim manager Roberto Moreno, Son exploited space between Ecuador’s central defenders and defensive midfielders.
• Match Execution: South Korea secured a 3-0 victory with goals from Oh Hyun-gyu in the 9th minute of the second half, Son’s free-kick in the 13th minute of the second half, and Lee Dong-gyeong in the 41st minute of the second half.

Tactical Breakdown of the Suwon Friendly

South Korea hosted Ecuador on September 24 at Suwon World Cup Stadium as part of the Hana Bank-sponsored international friendlies for September and October. Interim manager Roberto Moreno deployed Son Heung-min as the team’s primary center-forward, a tactical choice that immediately disrupted Ecuador’s defensive block. The home side opened the scoring in the 9th minute of the second half through Oh Hyun-gyu.

Just four minutes later, South Korea capitalized on a set-piece opportunity. Positioned on the left side of the penalty box, Son curled a right-footed free-kick past Ecuador goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez into the opposite corner of the net. While Ecuadorian outlet Ecovisa noted that the goalkeeper bore a degree of responsibility for the trajectory, they emphasized that the execution did not detract from the quality of the strike. The 3-0 scoreline was cemented in the 41st minute of the second half when Lee Dong-gyeong converted his chance to seal the match.

International Media Reaction and Spatial Exploitation

Ecovisa described the South Korean captain as “an absolute nightmare for Ecuador,” highlighting his role in orchestrating the team’s offensive tempo.

According to tactical assessments published after the match, Son repeatedly drifted into the tactical void between Ecuador’s central defenders and defensive midfielders. This positioning granted him sufficient time and space to receive possessions cleanly, turn toward goal, and engage defenders directly. His ability to dictate the rhythm of the attack kept Ecuador’s backline under constant pressure.

Chasing the All-Time Record

Player	International Appearances	Total Goals	Status
Cha Bum-kun	136	58	Former Manager
Son Heung-min		57	National Team Captain

With this latest conversion, Son’s international tally stands at 57 goals. He stands one goal shy of equaling Cha Bum-kun’s benchmark of 58 goals for the South Korean men’s national team.