Korea stunned by Lebanon 1-2 in World Cup qualification

Korea was stunned by Lebanon as it suffered a shocking 2-1 loss to the home team in the Asian qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Beirut on Tuesday.

Korea has narrowly kept the top place in Group B with 10 points after five games on a goal difference against Lebanon. Third-placer Kuwait has eight points as it garnered a 2-1 upset victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE),which has zero.

But Korea could be disqualified if it is defeated by Kuwait in its home game and upstart Lebanon wins its final match against the UAE on the same day, Feb. 29.

Meanwhile, North Korea also shocked Japan, shutting it out 1-0 at its fifth round of the Group C in Pyongyang. Japan has 10 points with three wins, one draw and one defeat, while North Korea was disqualified with two wins against three defeats.

From the outset, Asian Group B leader Korea was led by Lebanon, which is placed 146th in the FIFA ranking, as Ali Al-Saadi scored a goal for his Middle East nation in the fifth minute before some 40,000 raucous, partisan fans at Sports City Stadium in the Lebanese capital.

In the 20th minute, Korea's Koo Ja-cheol converted a penalty to tie the score at 1:1 but Abbas Atwi restored Lebanon's lead from the penalty spot at the half-hour mark resutling in the home team's victory.

Korean team coach Cho Kwang-rae blamed the defeat on a lack of top players and the pitch.

''First of all, I was very worried about the condition of the pitch,'' he told the Associated Press. ''The pitch was quite poor and our play was influenced by the poor pitch. I would also like to mention the refereeing. I saw some points of improvement in general. Still, my players did their best in these tough conditions.''

Cho also cited the absence of Arsenal forward Park Chu-young, along with those unavailable due to injury and suspension, but remained confident his side would progress in qualifying.

''The main reason that we lost is that I lost some key players .... I don't think this was my strongest team,'' Cho was quoted as saying.

This is the first defeat of Korea against Lebanon. Korea had recorded six wins and one draw until it was defeated by the Middle East underdog.

Meanwhile, Lebanon made an ideal start when Roda Antar mis-hit a free kick from the edge of the penalty area and the ball fell to Al-Saadi who fired in from close range.

Lebanon looked comfortable with its lead until a piece of overzealous defending from Al-Saadi gave Korea a penalty that Koo comfortably slotted away.

The home side's disappointment was short-lived, though, with Mahmoud el Ali being brought down in the area on 30 minutes and Atwi driving home the spot-kick.

Lebanon's German coach Theo Bucker said the victory showed the strength of Lebanese football, the AP reported.

''First of all, this victory is for the Lebanese people,'' he told the AP. ''We had belief in our team. Our football was much better than anyone believed until a couple of days ago. Lots of people were laughing about me here and in Germany.

''I know Arab football, Asian football, European football, and our football, tactically and technically, is as good as anywhere else.''