Son Jun-ho and Hwang In-beom tested the Hong Kong defense with a couple of early shots. Ha did have one counterattack chance, as he snuck in behind the defense and rolled a shot just wide of the left post in the 27th minute.

South Korea had trouble establishing much of an offensive presence in the sea of red Hong Kong uniforms.

A deft free kick by Hwang finally put South Korea on the board in the 45th minute. Hwang banked his curling shot in off the left post, freezing Yapp in his spot.

It was South Korea's first goal in four matches. They had consecutive scoreless draws against North Korea and Lebanon in World Cup qualifying matches, and then suffered a 3-0 loss to Brazil in a friendly match last month.

Hong Kong continued to frustrate the South Korean attackers, who kept knocking on the door until it opened again in the 81st minute with Na's goal.

Midfielder Kim Bo-kyung received a corner kick from Hwang and set up Na for the header past Yapp that doubled the South Korean lead.

This is the third time South Korea has hosted the EAFF tournament and the Taeguk Warriors have never lifted the trophy on home soil. They finished in fourth place in 2005 and in third place in 2013.

Bento is without the services of Europe-based players, such as Tottenham Hotspur attacking ace Son Heung-min and budding FC Red Bull Salzburg star Hwang Hee-chan. The EAFF tournament isn't on the FIFA international match calendar, and clubs aren't obliged to release their South Korean players for this event.

On the 23-man team, Hwang is the only player based outside Asia. (Yonhap)