Korea edges Zambia 2-1 in friendly

By Kang Seung-woo

Ulsan Hyundai forward Lee Keun-ho scored two goals to help Korea defeat Zambia 2-1 on Wednesday.

In a friendly against the 44th-ranked Africans at Anyang Stadium, the 27-year-old headed home a Kim Hyeung-bum cross to put 29th-ranked Choi Kang-hee’s side ahead in the 16th minute, but the lead was cancelled out by Zambian striker Emmanuel Mayuka’s goal at 28 minutes.

Two minutes into the second half, Lee found the net again with a mid-range effort to give his team the lead for good.

Korea, seeking for its eighth-straight World Cup appearance, is sitting atop Group A on six points in the final qualifying round after beating Qatar and Lebanon 4-1 and 3-0, respectively.

Korea will face Uzbekistan, which is 0-1-1, in Tashkent onSept. 11.