The Gambia U-20 were yesterday thrashed 4-0 by South Korea in the opening match of the on-going Suwon Youth International tournament in Suwon city.

The Darling Scorpions incurred two goals in each half with one of the goals emanating from a spot kick in the first interval.

Gambia were reduced to 10-man with the sending off of Pa Landing Conateh who accidentally handed the ball in his struggle to save it from touching the goal line, when goalkeeper Christopher Allen was beaten in the six-yard .

Gambia will return to action on Sunday, March 25, against the South American side, Chile, who also eases past Poland with a hard-fought 2-0 victory on the same day. The Darling Scorpions will play their final match on Tuesday, March 27, against Poland.

Meanwhile, many analysts have attributed Gambia’s heavy defeat to the absence of some key players from the team and the hectic journey they have endured on their way to Korea.

The Suwon Youth International tournament is a biennial championship for national youth teams that qualified for FIFA U-20 World Cups. The championship was initiated in 2003, and since then, Korea has been the sole winners.