By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter
Kim Seung-yong's first-half strike proved enough for South Korea as they edged Syria 1-0 in an Olympic qualifying match Wednesday at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
The match was not as close as the score indicated, as the Koreans dominated their overwhelmed opponents for every minute, but were left to rue their lack of finishing ability for the modest stats.
The win gives the Koreans a comfortable lead in Group B as they remain on course for a sixth consecutive appearance in an Olympic football tournament.
In what was arguably the most impressive display of Park Sung-hwa's reign as the country's under-23 coach, the Koreans were in attack-mode from the start, relentlessly pounding the flanks to force an all-out tempo. However, their attacks produced little more than near misses and Park would be advised to speed his search for a true, frontline predator who is comfortable getting the ball over the top or from crosses.
Lee Keun-ho, back from a one-game suspension, nearly put the team ahead in the eighth minute but his header from a Baek Ji-hoon corner kick bounced wide of the post.
However, Lee quickly made up for his mistake a minute later when he slashed deep into the goal area and dished the ball back to Baek waiting at the edge of the box. Baek timed a perfect cross to Kim who was left uncontested as he drove home what proved to be the winner.
Threatening his opponents with his distribution and set-piece prowess throughout the game, Baek tried to finish the job himself in the 12th minute but botched a header from close range that went over the crossbar.
Striker Shin Young-rok had chance to give the team a second goal in the 21st minute but his header off a Baek free kick sailed inches wide of the post.
The Koreans nearly paid for their missed opportunities five minutes later when Syrian attacker Waela Ayan found himself with a clean-cut opportunity inside the box. However, Ayan made a crucial mental mistake as he rolled the ball in the direction of Korean goalkeeper Song You-gual, despite being granted the time and space for an equalizer.
The Syrians had to feel fortunate after conceding just one goal in the first-half despite the Korean onslaught, and they showed more fight at the start of the second-half, although many of their attacks ended prematurely with desperate long-distance attempts.
Syrian striker Mohnd Al Ebrhim came close just out of the gate but his screamer from about 20 meters out was punched away by Song. Syria threatened again in the 61st minute when Abdair Azakai Housain deflected a shot off a Korean defender that nearly found its way into the top of the net.
Kim came just inches away from scoring a goal as he broke through the back line to meet a Baek cross in the air, but the ball deflected off the foot of Syrian goalkeeper Alial Holami.
A tiring Kim was replaced by Lee Seung-hyun, and the fleet-footed reserve forward nearly repaid his coach's trust in the 85th minute, but his screamer from the edge of the box went just wide of the left side of the post.
The Koreans threatened five minutes later when Keun-ho shook off two defenders at the edge of the box and lashed off a right-footer that was saved by a diving Holami.