Watch: Son’s late free-kick secures S. Korean draw against Costa Rica
Son Heung-min scored a late free-kick to secure South Korea’s 2-2 draw against 10-man Costa Rica in their World Cup tune-up match on Friday.
Costa Rica went down a man in the 81st when goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado was sent off for grabbing the ball outside the box to prevent a South Korean opportunity.
Son converted the ensuing free-kick, salvaging a draw for the home team before about 37,000 fans at Goyang Stadium, northwest of Seoul.
Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan put South Korea ahead with a left-footed strike in the 28th, only to see Jewison Bennette score the equaliser in the 41st and then the go-ahead goal in the 65th.
South Korea nearly pulled even in the 68th, with Hwang Ui-jo striking the bottom of the crossbar from close range.
Korea controlled the run of play in the early moments, sending opposing defenders scrambling in their own box with quick passes and speedy off-ball movements.
Their early dominance paid off in Hwang Hee-chan’s goal, after Yoon Jong-gyu’s pass found him alone outside the centre of the box.
Bennette responded for Costa Rica, heading in his first international goal after Gerson Torres’s cross from the right side floated over scrambling South Korean defenders.
Later, Bennette put Costa Rica ahead when he scored off a rebound following Anthony Contreras’s shot.
Costa Rica came within 10 minutes of an upset, before Alvarado’s costly mistake — and Son’s ensuing goal — dashed their hopes.
