South Korea 1-4 Uruguay — Darwin Núñez scores twice as Diego Forlán gets his first win and Robert Moreno suffers his first defeat [International Friendly]
2026-09-28
International Friendly: South Korea hosted Uruguay, and Uruguay won it 4-1.
Uruguay beat South Korea 4-1 in Seoul. Darwin Núñez scored twice and Giorgian de Arrascaeta had a goal and an assist as Uruguay led 3-0 at half-time; Lee Kang-in's late strike was Korea's only reply.
Uruguay beat Korea 4-1 — a first win for Forlán, a first defeat for Moreno
South Korea lost 4-1 to Uruguay in an international friendly at Seoul World Cup Stadium on 28 September. Four days after beating Ecuador 3-0 in his first match, interim head coach Robert Moreno suffered his first defeat. Darwin Núñez scored on 13 and 62 minutes and Giorgian de Arrascaeta added a goal and an assist as Uruguay settled the game with three goals before half-time. Lee Kang-in's strike on 81 minutes was all Korea could manage in reply. According to Korean media, Uruguay had gone eight games without a win, including a 3-1 defeat to Japan four days earlier, so this was a first victory for interim coach Diego Forlán in his second match in charge.
Line-ups — Korea's 4-4-2 with Lee Kang-in on the right, Uruguay's 4-2-3-1
Moreno kept the 4-4-2 he used against Ecuador and made four changes. Kim Seung-gyu started in goal behind Lee Tae-seok, Kim Min-jae, Lee Han-beom and Seol Young-woo from left to right. Hwang Hee-chan played on the left of midfield, Lee Jae-sung and Kim Bong-soo in the centre and Lee Kang-in — left out of the squad for the Ecuador game — on the right, with Son Heung-min and Oh Hyeon-gyu again paired up front. Uruguay switched from the 4-4-2 they used against Japan to a 4-2-3-1, also with four changes: Cristopher Fiermarín in goal; Joaquín Piquerez, Mathías Olivera, Ronald Araújo and Guillermo Varela across the back; Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Torreira as the double pivot; Maxi Araújo, De Arrascaeta and Brian Rodríguez behind Núñez.
13 and 27 minutes — De Arrascaeta at the heart of Uruguay's first two goals
The deadlock was broken on 13 minutes. De Arrascaeta threaded a pass in behind the Korean back line, and Núñez ran through to finish low into the bottom right corner with his right foot. On 27 minutes De Arrascaeta took a pass from Maxi Araújo and struck a right-footed shot from outside the box into the bottom right corner to make it 2-0. Korea had more of the ball, but Uruguay went straight for goal whenever they won it back and needed few touches to score. There was a stoppage on 31 minutes after Lee Han-beom took a blow to the face.
A third just before the break — Korea fail to hit the target in the first half
Korea conceded again shortly before half-time. On 43 minutes Uruguay worked the ball down the left and Varela's shot found the net; it was recorded as an own goal by Kim Min-jae, though some outlets credited Varela. Korea did not manage a shot on target in the first half and went in 3-0 down. At the break Moreno took off Kim Min-jae, Hwang Hee-chan, Kim Bong-soo and Lee Tae-seok and sent on Kim Tae-hyeon, Park Jin-seob, Cho Hyun-taek and Kim Min-su — four changes at once, just as against Ecuador.
Núñez's second on 62 minutes, then a consolation from Lee Kang-in's left foot
Korea had the ball and pushed forward after the break, but the next goal was Uruguay's too. On 62 minutes Varela crossed from the right and Núñez headed in to make it 4-0. Varela, who had not started against Japan, was involved in two of the four goals. Korea brought on Oh Se-hun, Choi Jun and Park Tae-jun on 72 minutes, and finally scored on 81: Lee Kang-in took the ball from Lee Han-beom on the right and fired a left-footed shot from outside the box into the bottom left corner — a response from the Real Madrid midfielder on his return to the starting line-up. Uruguay lost De Arrascaeta to injury on 77 minutes, with Rodrigo Zalazar replacing him. Korea had 57 per cent of possession and more shots on target, six to four, but Uruguay had 12 shots to Korea's 10 and took their chances.
Next up — Korea host Venezuela in Ulsan on 2 October, Uruguay face India on 6 October
Korea play Venezuela at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium on 2 October. The questions are how Moreno repairs a defence that conceded three times in the first half, and whether he sticks with Lee Kang-in on the right. Venezuela also played on 28 September, against Japan, so they will have three days' rest. Uruguay finish their Asian tour against India in Kolkata on 6 October.
See the South Korea vs Venezuela predicted lineupsVenue: Seoul World Cup Stadium
- Location
- Mapo District, Seoul, South Korea
- Capacity
- 66,704
Hosted the opening match of the 2002 World Cup and is regarded as the home of the Korean national team.
South Korea
Formation: 4-4-2
- GKKim Seung-Gyu
- LSBLee Tae-seok
- LCBKim Min-Jae
- RCBLee Han-Beom
- RSBSeol Young-Woo
- LMFHwang Hee-Chan
- LCMFLee Jae-Sung
- RCMFKim Bong-soo
- RMFLee Kang-in
- LSTSon Heung-Min
- RSTOh Hyeon-Gyu
South Korea set up in a 4-4-2. Kim Seung-Gyu, Lee Tae-seok, Kim Min-Jae and others were named in the starting XI.
Uruguay
Formation: 4-2-3-1
- GKCristopher Fiermarín
- LSBJoaquín Piquerez
- LCBMathías Olivera
- RCBRonald Araújo
- RSBGuillermo Varela
- LDMFRodrigo Bentancur
- RDMFLucas Torreira
- LAMMaxi Araújo
- CAMGiorgian de Arrascaeta
- RAMBrian Rodríguez
- CFDarwin Núñez
Uruguay set up in a 4-2-3-1. Cristopher Fiermarín, Joaquín Piquerez, Mathías Olivera and others were named in the starting XI.
Match Summary
International Friendly: South Korea vs Uruguay finished 1-4. South Korea lined up in a 4-4-2.