South Korea makes history

South Korea makes history



South Korea's World Cup history traces back to 1954, when the country suffered humiliating 9-0 and 7-0 losses to Hungary and Turkey, respectively. It took nearly 50 years of waiting until the Taeguk Warriors wrote a new chapter by reaching the semifinals in the 2002 tournament at home.

Eight years later, the squad has now morphed into a new dimension. Under the leadership of Korean manager Huh Jung-moo, South Korea achieved its aim of advancing to the knockout stage for the first time on foreign soil.

It also proved that the Asians are further nearing the mainstream of the football world, and the miraculous run back in 2002 was more than just a product of home advantage, as some people appear to be still trying to make the world believe.

Lee Jung-soo scored in the first half and Park Chu-young added a goal after halftime, as the team managed a 2-2 tie with Nigeria in its third and last group stage match in Durban, Tuesday, making it the sixth country to secure a spot in the knockout stage.

The result might not have been sufficient for a seat in the top 16 after the East Asians outplayed Nigeria and Greece in the Group B competition, but as Argentina beat Greece 2-0 in Polokwane, Korea's place was assured.

With four points, South Korea was second, ahead of Greece with three points and Nigeria with one.

In a match for a quarterfinal berth, South Korea next takes on Group A winner Uruguay at 11 p.m. Saturday (KST) at Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth, where the team got off to a flying start for its World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over Greece on June 12.

Nigeria opened the scoring; in the 12th minute, Kalu Uche converted a Chidj Odiah cross from the right to a sharp drive in the center of the box that hit the back of the net to the right. Cha Du-ri was standing behind the Nigerian midfielder, but failed to mark him on time.

However, South Korea squared it up seven minutes before the break in a virtual repetition of the first goal against Greece.

Ki Sung-yeung bent a free kick to the right post, and a header off an inrushing Lee Jung-soo was deflected off his feet and rolled into the net past Rabiu Afolabi and goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

The buoyant Koreans snatched the lead three minutes into the second half. Park Chu-young made up for his painful own goal in the Argentina match, by curling a beautiful free kick into the far right of the net, beating Enyeama's diving effort.

In the 68th minute, South Korea allowed a painful equalizer to Aiyegbeni Yakubu from a penalty kick as Kim Nam-il fouled Chinedu Ogbuke in the box during a poor attempt at a clearance.

The Nigerians then flooded the Korean half with desperate attacks, but South Korea managed to keep them off the board for the remaining minutes, as their supporters in the stadium and at home went euphoric.

Coach Huh said after the game that he was proud of all of his squad members.

"We made small mistakes against Nigeria. That's what we need to improve on in the matches to come," Huh said.

"One loss means it's over in a knockout bracket. Nobody knows what will happen and anything can happen. I am sure my boys will do their best, aiming higher than expected."

For the match against Uruguay, he said further preparation was necessary.

"Uruguay puts lots of defenders in the back, and is characterized by sharp counterattacks," Huh said. "But we can score against any team; we were the only one to score against Argentina in the group."

Captain Park Ji-sung said now the players can truly enjoy the game in the tournament.

"I was so thrilled and excited at the final whistle. I realize again how hard it is to get into the round of 16," the Manchester United star, who enjoyed a sweet trip to the semifinals in his first World Cup appearance in 2002, said of the Nigeria game.

"Sometimes we were distracted on the pitch, but it's something we have to keep in mind in the matches we will have here. Now that we achieved our initial goal, we will be able to enjoy our matches better."

At the final whistle, the whole country erupted with joy and celebration in the early Wednesday hours here.

Over 500,000 fans gathered outside, in front of giant outdoor screens in various places nationwide, to watch the game together and cheer for the national team

kuya owin nanalo ba ang korea versus sa portugal? at anu po score?

ohh my...???

BEAT KO PO ARGENTINA,,,,,,,,

sila tinik sa korea ahehehehe!!!

sana po manalo ang south korea this quarter finals.dami kasing benefits for them if they've won...

@kuya owin:
tama kapo jan at d lang nman po cla ang maki2nabang nyan kundi pati tayo narin pagdating ng panahon...

lageng may libreng pakain ang mga sajang ehehheh...... parang fiesta dito sakorea pag nanalo ang korean team sa worldup eh,......fighting

Totoo po maaliwalas ang panahon pagkanananalo ang south korean team sa laro nila sa world cup, pro pagkatalo ay maiinit ang ulo kinabukasan sa trabaho at tahimik lagi...So, sana manalo pa ang south korea sa mga laro nila sa world cup, kahit hindi muna magchampion kasi imposible pa this time kasi ang daming magagaling na teams compared sa s. korea pra nman msaya din ang pinoys na ngwwork dito sa s. korea...

nakakalungkot,,,, talo po ang south korea sa world cup!!!
korea [1] vs uruguay [2]!!!!!
naiiyak n mga players lol!!!

fhergain wrote:nakakalungkot,,,, talo po ang south korea sa world cup!!!
korea [1] vs uruguay [2]!!!!!
naiiyak n mga players lol!!!

my gosh...huhuhu...

South Korea eliminated in Round of 16(so sad ,korea did not make it)

The miracle in 2002 was not repeated for South Korea. With the sound of a game-ending whistle, worn-out players fell to the ground simultaneously in a pouring rain, and in despair.

South Korea's World Cup campaign came to an end in the first knockout stage with a 2-1 defeat to Uruguay Saturday at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Eight years ago, the country allowed a first-half goal to Italy in its Round-of-16 match, but claimed a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the end as a last-minute goal by Seol Ki-hyeon leveled the score and Ahn Jung-hwan headed a golden goal in extra time.

Such a surprise, however, didn't happen again this time. Lee Chung-yong scored in the second half, but the East Asian side couldn't get over the two goals by Luis Suarez as it succumbed to the Group A winner, also stretching its no-win skid against the South Americans to five games.

For Huh Jung-moo's squad, it was still a successful run against all odds. In spite of a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Argentina, the team beat Greece and Nigeria in its Group B competition to secure a berth to the next round, the first time at an overseas tournament.

This is the second time that South Korea qualified in the first round in its eight World Cup appearances, since the 2002 campaign that brought the Taeguk Warriors to the semifinals on home turf.

South Korea nearly took an early lead four minutes into the match, as Maxi Pereira fouled Park Ji-sung near the far-left side of the box. Park Chu-young's free kick, however, hit the left post and went off.

However, it didn't take more than four minutes before Uruguay made the first goal.

A cross by Diego Forlan from the left flank founded an unmarked Suarez on the opposite side as Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong's clearing effort came late. Suarez made no mistake in fire it home.

Efforts by South Korea to strike back were not successful before halftime. Park Chu-Young's long-range drive in the 31st minute went a bit wide to left, and Cha Du-ri's shot four minutes later flew over the crossbar.

Another Park Chu-young free kick on 44 minutes hit the wall and fell to Cha, who unleashed another effort that went over the woodwork once again.

South Korea's trademark tough pressure worked from early minutes into the second half, successfully keeping the fatigued-looking opponent's attacking at bay, before Lee's goal finally tied the score in the 67th minute.

Ki Sung-yueng sent a free kick from the left flank. Diego Lugano's clearing effort rebounded to an inrushing Lee, who nodded it into the net past Lugano and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

Huh Jung-moo's squad seemed to fuel the dominance on the pitch after the equalizer, but Uruguay hit back sharp counterattacks. Suarez and Forlan knocked on the Korean side in the 73rd and 74st minute with a header and a drive, respectively, both of which failed to find the post.

A Forlan corner in the 80th minute, however, gave his team an aspired winner. It was rebound to Nicolas Rodeiro, then sent to Suarez, who beat Kim Jung-woo and curled it into the far right post past Jung's diving effort.

Desperate Koreans kept pushing their way onto the opponent's side, and it could have led to another equalizer seven minutes later.

Park Ji-sung's brilliant through ball found Lee Dong-gook up front for a critical one-on-one situation. The striker's left-footed shot, however, was not strong enough to go past Muslera.

Manager Huh bade his gratitude to his boys, as well as an apology to the team's supporters back home.

"I'm sad now, but the players will be in worse pain in their heart," Huh said in a tearful face. "We dominated most of the match, but allowed several easy chances to the opponent."

"Uruguay was a good team. We did our best and will accept the result as it is," Lee said after the match. "But I feel sorry about the match. We had a lot of chances after the equalizer but failed to add another goal. My goal means nothing without the team's win."

kaya pala mainit ang ulo ng mga koreano dito sa worksite namin..hehe. natalo pala ang korean team.