Korea Tops East Asian Contest
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
South Korea's national football team topped the East Asian Football Championship despite a 1-1 tie with archrival Japan.
The football squad, headed by new manager Huh Jung-moo, took command when striker Yeom Ki-hun scored a goal in the 14th minute ― his second straight game with a goal ― in the final match at Olympic Sports Center in Chongqing, China, Saturday, but allowed the opposing side to even the match in the 67th on a goal by midfielder Koji Yamae.
Although both sides were awarded five points from one win and two draws and had the same goal difference in the tournament, South Korea finished with a 5-3 advantage in goals over Japan, earning Huh's side the title.
The Korean team lifted the competition trophy for the first time since it won the inaugural East Asian tournament in 2003 in Japan. In the 2005 contest on home soil, the Koreans sank to the bottom of the standings.
In Saturday's other game, host China came back to beat North Korea 3-1 to place third with one win and two losses, while North Korea, which tied Japan and South Korea, failed to earn a victory.
Adding their tie to the tally, Korea and Japan have a 2-2 record with four draws against each other in their total fixtures since 2000.
Due to injuries to attackers Park Chu-young of FC Seoul and Ko Ki-gu of the Chumman Dragons, Yeom of the Ulsan Tigers and Cho Jin-soo of Jeju United formed a forward line.
The Taegeuk Warriors, who rank 41st in the FIFA rankings, controlled their No. 35-ranked rival from the kickoff and scored the opening goal 14 minutes into the first half, when Yeom volleyed in Park Won-jae's cross to put his side ahead.
The Japanese side, managed by Takeshi Okada, struck back immediately and threatened the Koreans several times before halftime.
Its efforts finally paid off at 67 minutes, as Yokohama Marinos midfielder Yamae fired home a shot after collecting a pass from Atsuto Uchida outside the area.