Draw with Bahrain Clouds Iran Match
By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
The South Korea national football team barely drew with Bahrain in a friendly match at Al Maktoum Stadium in, Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Wednesday.
In the final warm-up game for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Iran, the Huh Jung-moo-managed team drew 2-2 after Lee Keun-ho headed home in second-half injury time.
If the two tryout matches are any guide, Korean fans have enough reason to be worried about the prospects of victory against Iran. During the practice matches, the team has shown a number of holes in the back line.
But a consolation is that such big names as Park Ji-sung of Manchester United, Lee Young-pyo of Borussia Dortmund and Oh Bum-seok of Samara were absent, but will join the team for the Iran match, giving manager Huh more room for picking his best lineup.
Unlike the previous match against Syria, South Korea adopted a 4-4-2 formation. But the team, which is ranked 42nd in the FIFA world rankings, were pointless and the four defenders were not well organized against Bahrain, ranked 89th.
During the first half, midfielder Lee Chung-yong, back from injury, tried to find a way to goal, but the team's five shots were all off target.
In the second half, Huh substituted forward Jung Jo-gook with Jeong Shung-hoon in a bid to inject a sense of vitality and variety into the tepid team. But the first goal went to Bahrain through a penalty in the 63rd minute.
South Korea tied the game 1-1 in the 80th minute thanks to a Kim Jung-woo header.
Left foot specialist Yeom Ki-hun's free-kick from the left side was wired to Kim's head and the ball struck the back of the net.
However, South Korea's defenders held out for only three minutes after Korea had equalized the game and Huh's side were down 2-1.
A ball into the penalty box hit Kang Min-soo and the deflected ball was met by Abdullah Omar, whose through-pass reached Abdulrahman Mubarak to score.
In the last minute of the stoppage game, Lee's header saved Korean blushes and gave the team an almost unlikely equalizer.
The 2010 World Cup qualifying Group B leaders got their last chance at a corner kick from the left side.
Yeom, who set up the first goal through a free kick, crossed the ball into the middle of the penalty area and striker Lee sprang up to head home.
``Our frequent mistakes in the defensive line helped the Middle Eastern country a number of opportunities to score. We were unfocused in our overall game management. We must not repeat this against Iran,'' 54-year old Korea manager Huh said.
The Koreans will meet Iran in a tussle for the top spot of Group B in Tehran, Wednesday.
South Korea is in the lead with seven points with a 2-1-0 record, with Iran seated second with five points, a 1-2-0 record.
Korea has recorded a 8-8-5 run in total against Iran, but they've never beat the Persians on the road, with a record of 0-2-1.
The Taegeuk Warriors move from Dubai to Teheran Thursday night.