Wales 0 South Korea 0: Son Heung-min off target while new Spurs team-mate Brennan Johnson looks rusty in bore draw
BRENNAN JOHNSON was wrapped up in cotton wool in his first game since the Wales forward’s £47.5million deadline-day move to Spurs.
Kieffer Moore replaced the ex-Nottingham Forest hero at half-time.
It was a rusty run-out for Johnson, who did not play in Tottenham's 5-2 win at Burnley last Saturday after completing his Forest exit with just ten minutes of the transfer window remaining.
The 22-year-old lined up here against new club team-mate Son Heung-min, who scored a hat-trick at Turf Moor.
But the South Korea and Spurs captain had an off night in front of goal at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Sub Moore had the best chance of the game when he hit the post midway through the second half.
The Bournemouth striker headed Chris Mepham’s cross against the woodwork.
And the rebound struck Aaron Ramsey’s arm on a night of few chances in the Welsh capital.
Now Wales’ dismal run has been extended to one win in 13 matches.
Page stated before this friendly he would rather have not played it.
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Then the Wales boss picked a strong line-up with only three changes from the 2-0 loss to Turkey back in June.
This was a better performance from the hosts in what was a warm-up for the must-win Euro 2024 qualifier in Latvia on Monday with Page fighting to keep his job.
After a scrappy opening in front of a sparse 13,668 crowd, Harry Wilson had a decent chance to relieve the pressure building on Page.
But the Fulham attacker fired straight at Korea keeper Kim Seung-gyu after an incisive pass from Nathan Broadhead.
There was neat work in the build-up from Ben Davies, Ethan Ampadu and Ipswich’s Broadhead, who was making his first start for his country.
Page was left wincing on the sidelines after Lee Jae-sung’s late challenge on Davies in the 20th minute left the Spurs defender in a heap on the ground.
But Davies, who was captain for the night with Ramsey starting on the bench, was okay to play on.
Page also received a scare when Johnson was clattered by Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae but the ex-Forest star was okay to continue.
Korea were ranked seven places above Wales in 35th spot in the world rankings.
The visitors controlled possession but it took 40 minutes for Son to carve out his first chance when his long-range shot was saved by Danny Ward.
Page hooked Johnson and Ampadu at the break for Moore and Joe Morrell, who are suspended for the Riga clash.
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Son flashed an early second-half shot wide and Moore’s looping header struck the post but both sides fired blanks.
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