South Korean players celebrate Son Heung-min's (center) equalizer. AP=Yonhap News. 

The South Korean national football team concluded their September international matches with one win and one draw, following a tie against Mexico, the "strongest team" in North and Central America.

The national team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, drew 2-2 against Mexico in a friendly match held at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee, on the 10th (Korean time).

Hong Myung-bo's squad, which defeated the United States 2-0 in Harrison, New Jersey, on the 7th, also achieved a strong performance by playing an equal match against Mexico, co-hosts of the 2026 North American World Cup and winners of this year's CONCACAF Gold Cup.

With this draw, South Korea's record against Mexico in all-time senior men's national team matches stands at 4 wins, 3 draws, and 8 losses.

After a 1-0 victory in a friendly match in Los Angeles (LA), USA, in February 2006, South Korea had lost three consecutive matches before turning the tide with this draw.

Having finished their international schedule for this month, Hong Myung-bo's team will reconvene in October to face Brazil (on the 10th) and Paraguay (on the 14th) at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Hong Myung-bo's squad made significant changes to the starting lineup from the U.S. match, giving many players a chance to prove themselves against Mexico.

Oh Hyun-gyu (Genk) started upfront, supported by Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) and Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City).

"German-Korean Taeguk warrior" Jens Castrop (Mönchengladbach) made his first start in midfield, partnering with Park Yong-woo (Al-Ain), while Kim Moon-hwan and Lee Myung-jae (both Daejeon) were deployed as wingbacks.

Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), and Kim Tae-hyeon (Kashima) formed a back three, with Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo) in goal.

Only Kim Min-jae and Lee Han-beom from the U.S. match started this game.

"Captain" Son Heung-min started on the bench.

Unlike the U.S. match, which felt like a home game, Hong Myung-bo's team faced a "true away atmosphere" with most of the 30,000 seats filled by Mexican spectators. They were under pressure in the early stages but began to create opportunities.

In the 10th minute, Bae Jun-ho's right-footed shot from a low cross by Kim Moon-hwan on the right flank narrowly missed the goal to the right. In the 15th minute, Oh Hyun-gyu's left-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area was saved by goalkeeper Raúl Rangel.

In the 20th minute, on a counter-attack, Oh Hyun-gyu's left-footed shot after receiving an accurate pass from Lee Kang-in and quickly advancing into the penalty area again went wide to the right of the goal.

Failing to capitalize on their chances, South Korea conceded a goal in the 22nd minute.

Mexican veteran striker Raúl Jiménez headed in a long ball from Rodrigo Escobedo into the penalty area, scoring his 43rd international goal.

Later, South Korea struggled with the opponent's rough play, including Oh Hyun-gyu being fouled by a harsh tackle from Marcel Ruiz in the 36th minute, and Lee Kang-in being hit in the face during a challenge with Ruiz three minutes later. They finished the first half without scoring.

Hong Myung-bo's team sought to change the momentum by substituting Bae Jun-ho and Castrop with Son Heung-min and Kim Jin-gyu (Jeonbuk), respectively, at the start of the second half.

With this appearance, Son Heung-min played in his 136th international match, tying former national team coach Cha Bum-kun and current coach Hong Myung-bo for the most appearances by a South Korean male player.

Despite the substitutions, Hong Myung-bo's team continued to be troubled by Mexico's fast and sharp attacks. The problem-solver, however, was Son Heung-min, the "living legend," who also set a new appearance record.

Son Heung-min calmly waited on the left for a ball headed down by Oh Hyun-gyu from the center of the penalty area and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot that shook the net.

Currently second in all-time international goals for South Korea, Son Heung-min scored his 53rd goal, narrowing the gap to five goals behind first-place former coach Cha (58 goals).

Afterward, Hong Myung-bo's team blocked Mexico's increasingly fierce onslaught and attempted to counter-attack by switching the wingbacks to Yang Jeong-bin (St. Louis) and Lee Tae-seok (Austria Wien) in the 28th minute, forming a five-man defense.

Then, in the 30th minute of the second half, they took the lead.

From the center circle, Lee Kang-in sent a long ball to Oh Hyun-gyu, who drove into the right side of the penalty area and shot with his right foot from a difficult angle towards the left post. The ball skillfully went through the opponent's legs and into the net.

With complete momentum, Hong Myung-bo's team tried to seal the game by substituting Oh Hyun-gyu, who appeared to be suffering from a muscle cramp, with Lee Dong-gyeong (Gimcheon) in the 42nd minute of the second half. However, precarious situations continued due to Mexico's relentless attacks.

In the 44th minute of the second half, Santiago Giménez took a surprise shot with his left foot from the edge of the penalty arc, but Kim Seung-gyu narrowly pushed it away with his fingertips, overcoming a critical moment. However, they conceded a heartbreaking equalizer in stoppage time.

Approximately four minutes into the six minutes of added time, Giménez again targeted the goal with his left foot from the edge of the penalty arc, and it precisely found the left corner of the net.

As added time was nearing its end, Son Heung-min once again aimed for the goal from the left side of the penalty area but narrowly missed with his left-footed shot after some skillful footwork, leaving them with regret.

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