South Korea s Hwang Ui-jo celebrates after scoring the goal during their friendly soccer match between South Korea and Egypt at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. AP
The Pharaohs, with a side mainly comprising of locally-based players, produced another lifeless display in what was probably Galal's last chance to save his job following a stunning 2-0 loss to Ethiopia in an African Nations Cup qualifier last week.
South Korea went 2-0 up inside the first 21 minutes, thanks to headers from Ui-jo Hwang and Kim Young-gwon.
Galatasaray striker Mostafa Mohamed, one of only two foreign-based players in Egypt's starting line-up, halved the deficit seven minutes before the break but two late goals from substitute Cho Gue-sung and winger Kwon Chang-hoon completed an emphatic win for Korea.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said earlier this week that its board would convene on Thursday to decide on Galal's future. Reports said some board members could also step down.
Galal took over in April following the departure of veteran Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, under whom Egypt reached the Nations Cup final and a final two-legged World Cup qualifying playoff, only to lose both contests to Senegal on penalties.
While Galal kicked off his tenure with a 1-0 home win over Guinea in Egypt's opening Nations Cup qualifier, they appeared largely toothless and all their frailties were then brutally exposed by a vibrant Ethiopia side in their second Group D clash.
Injury problems
Galal was unlucky to lose several key players due to injury ahead of the Korea game, including Liverpool talisman Salah, Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny, Aston Villa winger Mahmoud Trezeguet and Ahly's defensive midfielder Hamdi Fathi.
Mostafa Mohamed missed a sitter in the early stages following a wayward pass from South Korea keeper Seung-gyu Kim but the hosts then assumed control, pinning Egypt into their own half with their intricate passing game.
Striker Hwang put Korea ahead after 16 minutes when he nipped between Egypt's central defenders to head home an inviting left-wing cross from Jin-Su Kim.
Egypt barely had time to recover when Korea struck again four minutes later, with Kim again the provider. The full-back flicked a corner to the far post, where Young-gwon popped up unmarked to head home.
Egypt pulled one back on 38 minutes following a fine team move, although there was an element of luck at the end.
Full-back Omar Kamal chested a chipped ball in the area and squared it to winger Ibrahim Adel, whose low shot struck a defender and found Mostafa to lash the loose ball past Seung-gyu Kim.
Despite still being behind, Egypt were content to sit back and soak up pressure for much of a drab second half, with clear-cut chances at a premium.
Egypt restricted Korea to some half-chances but their sloppiness at the back still cost them in the dying minutes.
A mis-placed pass from Omar Kamal across midfield was intercepted and the ball was slipped to Gue-sung on the edge of the area to send a delightful curler into the far corner.
Chang-hoon completed the rout one minute into stoppage time, catching Egypt's central defenders ball-watching once again to powerfully head home following a pinpoint cross.
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