The South Korean men's national football team fell in their final friendly match on home soil before the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Zouheir Dhaouadi scored near the end of the first half, lifting Tunisia to a 1-0 victory at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old Club Africain midfielder dribbled past three Korean defenders to fire a low kick outside the box in the 44th minute, which sailed past goalie Jung Sung-ryong into the right back of the net. That gave Belgian coach Georges Leekens his first victory over Korea since his Belgian national team played Korea to a draw during the 1998 World Cup in France.

The match was between two closely ranked teams. Tunisia is ranked 49th in the world by FIFA, while Team Korea is ranked 55th. Even though Tunisia is the higher ranked squad, the North African side failed to qualify for Brazil. Team Korea on the other hand, will play in its eighth consecutive World Cup next month.

Team Korea struggled against the dogged Tunisian defense, threatening to score only a few times during the course of the match.

Korea squandered several chances in the first half, including Koo Ja-cheol’s left-footer from Lee Yong’s cross in the 14th minute, which hit off the goal post after Tunisia's goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha managed to deflect it.

Shortly after, Lee had his own chance off of Park Chu-young’s pass, but his shot went wide right.

Issam Jemaa, the most capped player on the Tunisian side, threatened Korea in the 18th minute, but his shot sailed over the bar.

Son Heung-min’s attempt in the 29th minute was saved by Mustapha before Tunisia brought the momentum to its side after 30 minutes into the game. 

Jemaa almost got another chance in the 32nd minute but defender Hong Jeong-ho put a stop to it.

Korea lost more steam in the second half. Kim Bo-kyung of Cardiff City earned a chance to draw with a free kick foul in the closing minute, but after a melee in front of goal, Ha Dae-sung of Beijing Guoan failed to find the back of the net.

Manager Hong mobilized many key players to test Team Korea's offense, with Park Chu-young of Arsenal, replaced by Kim Shin-wook in the 75th minute. Meanwhile, Ji Dong-won, of FC Augsburg, substituted for Lee Chung-yong of Bolton Wanderers in the 82nd minute.

The match revealed Korea's lackluster offense, and also may have cost the team a defender, as Hong Jeong-ho of FC Augsburg injured his left ankle in the 58th minute. The outcome and the injury are concerning for Korea's prospects in Brazil.

Under the leadership of Hong, Korea's record now stands at five wins, seven losses, and three draws.

Team Korea will play its final tuneup match with Ghana in Miami on June 9. The team leaves for the U.S. on Friday.

In Brazil, Korea will have its Group H opener against Russia on June 17. It will then play Algeria on June 22 and then Belgium on June 26.

Prior to Wednesday's match, a moment of silence was held to pay respect to the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster. The official attendance stood at 57-thousand-112.