By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
The South Korean national football team was held to 1-1 by Qatar in a friendly match in Doha Saturday.
Without key players such as Park Ji-sung, Lee Young-pyo and Park Chu-young due to club commitments, FC Seoul midfielder Lee Chung-yong's seventh-minute goal put the side ahead, but they could not maintain the lead, conceding an equalizer to Fabio Cesar in the 74th.
Although South Korea has stretched its unbeaten streak to 14 games ― seven wins and as many draws ― since coach Huh Jung-moo took over in February, its back line has yet to settle, allowing several counterattacks on its own area.
But the visiting Koreans were quick to open the scoring.
Just seven minutes into the game, Lee Chung-yong floated in a free-kick from outside the left edge of the area, when the ball took a bounce in the middle of the box and ended up in the right corner of the net.
The 78th-ranked Qatar soon began striking back to restore parity.
In the 36th minute, midfielder Majdi Siddiq's free-kick was saved by recalled goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae, and eight minutes later the veteran goalie denied another Cesar strike.
In the second half, South Korea, seeking its seventh-straight World Cup appearance, had chances that could have doubled the advantage.
Lee Chung-yong's free-kick was saved in the 51st minute and Ulsan Tigers winger Yeom Ki-hoon fired in a shot that sailed closely over the crossbar shortly afterwards.
Qatar ― which has a 1-1-1 record in Group A, sitting third behind Australia and Japan ― continued to apply pressure to Korea's penalty area and it was to pay dividends.
With about 15 minutes to go, Cesar rifled in a free-kick that was deflected into the back of the net off the Korean wall, rooting Lee to the spot.
``I do not worry about the result too much because I focused on checking players' conditioning ahead of the Saudi Arabia match,'' manager Huh said after the match.
``It will be helpful in using players for the match."
Qatar coach Bruno Metsu was in an upbeat mood after the game, describing the outcome as a morale-boosting result.
``It was a good game of football that will give us a lot of confidence when we play Japan," he said.
``After the friendly loss to Iran earlier, our players showed today they can compete with the best.''
The Taeguk Warriors, ranked first on goal difference in Group B with a 1-1 record, will meet Saudi Arabia in its third World Cup qualifier in Riyadh Wednesday.
The group ― which is also made up of North Korea, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia ― is currently a four-way tie.