By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
South Korea's Olympic football team defeated African qualifier Cote d'Ivoire 2-1 in a friendly match, Sunday.
In its second preparation game for the Beijing Olympics, held at Suwon World Cup Stadium filled with 31,000 fans, goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong and Daegu FC striker Lee Keun-ho helped the home side to victory.
With the win, manager Park Sung-hwa's side, which has been riding a two-game winning streak since it took an Olympics berth, brightened its prospects toward a medal in Beijing.
The U-23 squad edged Guatemala's national team 2-1 in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province on July 16.
The Taeguk Warriors, who have advanced to the Olympics for the sixth straight time, pressed the rising African heavyweight, which earned its first Olympic appearance by finishing first in Group B of regional qualifying, on flank attacks, while the Africans sruck back with speedy passes.
In the 20th minute, FC Seoul striker Park Chu-young fired a curling free kick, awarded for a foul on defender Kim Dong-jin of Zenit St. Petersburg, but it was saved by goalkeeper Vincent Angban.
A pass from the midfield, slipped by Lee Keung-ho, got to Park, who curled it, but it was denied by Angban again in the 37th.
South Korea's first goal came from an unexpected man, goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong in the 41st.
Jung's kick out of his area bounced over his rival into the net for a 1-0 lead for the home side.
Eighteen minutes into the second half, Park's side doubled the lead on Lee Keun-ho's goal.
Zenit defender Kim Dong-jin crossed from the left, and Lee, who also scored a winner against Guatemala, was the first to react to it by firing into the far right corner of the net.
The Africans, who are drawn with Argentina, Australia and Serbia in Group A, found the net in the 74th as defender Shin Kwang-hoon's back header to goalie Jung got to Gervais Yao Kouassi, who tapped it in to make it 2-1.
The opponents kept attacking the South Korean side, but were denied by goalkeeper Jung.
South Koreans will face the Australian Olympic team Thursday at the Seoul World Cup Stadium before flying to Beijing.