South Korea suffers Honduras heartbreak
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South Korea’s Son Heung-min, front, laments his team’s defeat to Honduras during a quarter finals match of the men’s Olympic football between South Korea and Honduras at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Saturday. Honduras won the match 1-0 and advanced to the semi-final. / AP-Yonhap
By John Duerden
It ended in tears. Not tears of happiness, but frustration and bitterness as South Korea lost 1-0 to Honduras in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Rio Olympics at Belo Horizonte.
Frustration because the Taegeuk Warriors dominated the game in terms of possession (64 percent to 36 percent) and shots (16 to 5) but couldn't score and when Alberth Elis found the target after 60 minutes, things began to get desperate.
There was bitterness that despite a lengthy injury delay at the end of normal time, the referee did not take this into account when he blew his final whistle. There should have been a few minutes more.
Yet given what had happened over the previous 90 minutes, few would have bet on Korea actually making use of the extra time. Chances came and went but the team was just not incisive enough.
Son Heung-min alone had enough opportunities to win the game comfortably. The Tottenham Hotspur star was chosen as an “overage” player in the hope that he could inspire the team to a medal and also win exemption from military duty for all the players.
Yet Son could not find a way past the inspired Honduran goalkeeper. Luis Lopez made save after save. Three came from the English Premier League star alone. Lopez will be featured in Son's nightmares for some time to come.
A thunderous volley at the end of the first half looked destined for the back of the net but there was the goalkeeper once again. Others such as Ryu Seung-woo also came close but couldn't score.
There was always a danger. Everyone knew what Honduras would do -- sit back, defend in numbers and look to counter-attack. And with Korea growing increasingly desperate and pushing forward, the Central Americans made the East Asians pay for their misses.
Rommel Quioto picked up possession on the hour, made a run through the middle and found Elis in the area and that was that.
With a lead to defend, it was only going to get more frustrating for Korea and so it was. Honduras withdrew even deeper, putting more bodies behind the ball and the 2012 bronze medalist just couldn't break the well-drilled opposition down.
Well before the final whistle, there was a certain sense of inevitability in the Belo Horizonte Stadium. Korea just did not look like they could score.
Honduras started to burn time, as most teams would when they are on the brink of a surprise and momentous victory.
In the final moments, right-back Lee Seul-chan burst into the right side of the area but his shot, which was heading nowhere near the goal, was blocked. It summed up Korea's night.
And then the referee blew his whistle far too early. Son was especially upset with the official but probably just as upset with himself.
Korea should have won but instead of heading to the semifinals, they are heading home. It will be a long journey.