Lee Dong-gyeong leads Korea 1-0 over El Salvador — El Salvador Vs

Lee Dong-gyeong settled el salvador vs with a left-foot free kick in the 12th minute of the second half, and South Korea left Salt Lake City with a 1-0 win on 4 June. The result completed two straight victories in its final World Cup tuneups.

Lee Dong-gyeong in Salt Lake City

The decisive strike came from just outside the penalty area, where Lee drove a powerful left-footed free kick past El Salvador’s defense. South Korea had already beaten Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 in the same city on 31 May, so the team closed its two-match run in Utah with six goals scored and none conceded.

Lee’s finish also kept his season form in view. The Ulsan HD midfielder has five goals and three assists in 14 matches this year, and he was named K League Most Valuable Player last year.

Hong Myung-bo’s altitude camp

Hong Myung-bo set up camp in Salt Lake City from 18 of last month to prepare the squad for altitude before the 2026 World Cup. South Korea is in Group A with Mexico, the Czech Republic and South Africa, and its first two group matches against the Czech Republic and Mexico will be played in Guadalajara at more than 1,500 meters above sea level.

That gave the trip to Utah a clear purpose beyond the scoreline. The training base and the friendlies were built around conditions South Korea will face in Mexico, where the opening stretch of the group stage comes at altitude.

South Korea controls the numbers

FootMob showed South Korea with 72% possession, 15 total shots and seven shots on target. El Salvador managed three total shots and none on target, which left the match decided by one clean moment rather than sustained pressure in front of goal.

iSports described the game as one in which South Korea had to work hard to get past El Salvador, and the free kick fit that description. One strike decided it, but the numbers show a team that spent most of the night on the ball and testing the opponent’s shape.