 South Korean defender Kim Chi-woo celebrates after Kim scored the game winning goal in the 88th minute of a World Cup qualifying match against North Korea in Seoul, Wednesday. South Korea retook first spot in Group B with the 1-0 victory. / Yonhap |
By Yoon ChulStaff Reporter
South Korea retook the top spot in Group B of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers beating North Korea 1-0 in Seoul, Wednesday.
Defender Kim Chi-woo's looped free kick from the right in the 88th minute threaded through defenders and attackers alike to find the left corner of the net.
Earning three valuable points in front of 48,366 home fans, South Korea are on target for a seventh World Cup finals appearance with a record of 3-2-0 and 11 points.
Meanwhile North Korea, which was on top of the group after a 2-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates, Saturday, dropped to second with 10 points from a 3-1-2 record.
South Korea's manager Huh Jung-moo fielded AS Monaco's Park Chu-young, and Lee Keun-ho forward, while the North's Kim Jong-hun kept most of his players in defense.
As the match started, the first chance fell to North Korean captain Hong Young-jo who rifled a threatening shot that was punched away by goalie Lee Woon-jae.
With Huh's players not finding space they resorted to crosses from the wings, but most proved inaccurate.
In the 27th minute a cross by South Korean defender Lee Young-pyo, found Park Chu-young's head, but team captain Park Ji-sung's sliding shot from the feed was grounded by the North's keeper.
Eight minutes later, Lee Young-pyo saw a shot scream over to the right of the crossbar.
At the beginning of the second half, a mistake by the South Korean defense fed the ball to Hong Young-jo who crossed to striker Jong Tae-se. However, Lee Woon-jae parried Jong's header to the right corner, and the rebound shot by the North's Park Nam-chol was cleared by defender Hwang Jae-won.
Following increasing pressure, South Korean striker Lee Keun-ho had two decisive chances in the 66th and 69th minutes.
First, Park Chu-young passed to him in the goal area but his shot was straight at the goalkeeper. He then repeated a similar miscue off a pass from Park Ji-sung.
With the win, South Korea broke their jinx of consecutive draws against the North.
They next play is against United Arab Emirates (UAE) on June 7 (Seoul Time) in UAE.
yc@koreatimes.co.kr
