Korea exacts revenge for Vietnam in World Cup qualifier

Jon · Korean Citizen Joined: Mar 19, 2004 Posts: 525

South Korea beat Vietnam 2-0 in a qualifying match for the 2006 World Cup yesterday, exacting revenge for last October's embarrassing 1-0 loss in an Asian Cup qualifier.
The victory cemented South Korea's lead in Asia's Group 7, which also includes Lebanon and Maldives, with seven points from two wins and one draw.

Determined to restore their pride as 2002 World Cup semifinalists, South Korean players pressed Vietnam through the match at Daejeon World Cup Stadium.

Striker Ahn Jung-hwan gave his team a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute when he shot the ball passed by playmaker Lee El-yong into the right corner of the net.

Ahn's goal increased the tempo of South Korea's attack, with two shots hitting the crossbar in the 37th minute and 47th minute.

[img:411f5c1b03]http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/img_dir/2004/06/10/200406100011.gif[/img:411f5c1b03]
South Korea beat Vietnam 2-0 in an Asian region World Cup qualifier Wednesday to keep the top post in Group 7.

The second goal for South Korea came in the 62nd minute when Kim Doo-hyun fired home a shot from the right corner of the penalty area.

South Korean players repeatedly broke through the Vietnamese defense but failed to garner an additional goal.

The Vietnamese side, which won its first victory against South Korea last year, posed few threatening moments for South Korea at last night's match.

Vietnamese coach Edson Tavares' decision to eliminate striker Pham Van Quyen from his squad proved not to be so wise. Tavares, a Brazilian, made the decision before leaving Vietnam for the match, saying Quyen went through a bad spell.

Last night's win came after South Korea got a boost from its 2-1 win over the formidable Turkish team in a home friendly Saturday after a series of poor results.

South Korea had not scored any goal in the previous three matches, including an embarrassing draw with Maldives in a World Cup qualifier March 31.

Vietnam lost 2-0 to Lebanon in a qualifying match on the same day. South Korea beat Lebanon 2-0 in February.

The four teams in Group 7 will hold a second round of matches among them and the best side will compete with winners of Asia's seven other preliminary groups at the final stage of the World Cup qualifying round next year.

(khkim@heraldm.com)

By Kim Kyung-ho