Winning is all-important and South Korea gained a first win with its deserved 2-0 victory over fallguys Poland in Busan last night.
After five consecutive World Cups, 10 losses and no wins, it was a historic night for the World Cup hosts at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium.
PHOTO: AP
South Korean coach Guus Hiddink's 3:4:3 combination proved effective as his team gradually asserted control in midfield and took a stranglehold on the match.
An uninspired Poland played a physical game -- drawing 22 fouls -- that did not pay off against the darting and agile South Koreans.
The Poles relied too much on the long ball and dangerman Emmanuel Olisadebe, paying the price as the South Koreans grew stronger as the game wore on.
South Korea Coach Guus Hiddink said after the game, "First of all this is a historic night for Korean football, a first which has made us all very happy."
He said his side had done enough to beat one of Europe's strongest teams by taking the initiative and imposing itself on the game.
"We knew that they [Poland] would use the long ball and not very sophisticated tactics, so we were ready for them. Our defense had tactics to deal with this and it worked."
South Korea's ecstatic fans, the "Red Devils," were full of optimism after the victory. A group of Busan high-school students said they were looking forward to the US game.
Jong Ki-il said Portugal was a good team and could give South Korea difficulties, but he was sure his team would beat the US.
"We don't like the USA. We will beat them. We must beat them."
His friend Kim Jong-il said, "Portugal is the best, but we're the best too."
At the start of the game, South Korea was edgy and it looked as if Poland's strength might prove too much.
Two half chances for the Europeans went begging in the first five minutes while South Korea organized itself in the middle of the field.
But as soon as South Korea's midfield engine room got into gear it created a first chance for Hong Myung-bo, who dummied his marker, turned and managed to get in a shot that was deflected for a corner.
Seol Ki-hyeon found some space from the corner and though he rose well he should have done better than head the ball into the ground from 10m out and into Jerzy Dudek's waiting arms.
While Poland managed a few shots on goal, it was the South Koreans who broke through on 26 minutes.
Lee Eul-yong picked up the ball on the left and swept it into the penalty area, where Hwang Sun-hong was waiting, criminally unmarked.
The crowd's favorite didn't hesitate and half volleyed into the net past an outstretched Dudek, sending the "Red Devils" into delirium.
Poland was muted and narrowly avoided going 2-0 down to a goal that was disallowed for offside.
The Poles were consistently being pulled up for fouls and were stymied in midfield, while the "Red Devils" seemed to start believing that a famous victory might be theirs and began a "Mexican Wave."
At half time the statistics told the story, with South Korea taking most of the possession and firing in six shots, two of them on target, to Poland's four shots on goal with none on target.
South Korea opened the second half on a promising note when a corner on the right that was met with a sweet volley from Park Ji-sung that was tipped over the bar by Dudek.
Five minutes later Seol Ki-hyeon found some space on the left and attacked the goal, unleashing a fierce drive that went over the top left-hand of the bar.
Poland seemed to have no answer to the passion and purpose of the South Koreans and was unable to make headway in attack, as Olisadebe faded from the game.
Yoo Sang-chul scored the clincher, a first-rate strike past Dudek from 17m out, after some clever approach play.
A favorite with South Korea's female "Red Devils," Lee Chun-soo joined play on 69 minutes and quickly made an impression. He picked up a ball from defense near the halfway line and ran for goal and glory, but struck the sidenetting.
Poland hung on but could make nothing out of open play or from set pieces and were leaving themselves open to sorties down the flanks from substitutes Lee Chun-soo and Ahn Jung-hwan.
South Korea never gave up the pace and Ahn caused more trouble, forcing a save from 20m out that was nearly finished off by late substitute Cha Du-ri with three minutes of extra time left.
There was just enough time for Park Ji-sung to take one more pot shot at goal when the final whistle sounded and the stadium erupted.
The South Korean players savored their moment of glory and went on a long tour of the arena to applaud their deserving fans.
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