Korea suffers 3-1 loss to Costa Rica
New coach Stielike’s strategy fails against higher ranked Central American squad
By Nam Hyun-woo
Korea’s national coach Uli Stielike reacts after the team allowed second goal to Costa Rica during their friendly game at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, Tuesday. / Yonhap
Korea's national football team suffered a 3-1 loss against Costa Rica, Tuesday, failing to respond to fans’ expectations after new coach Uli Stielike’s stunning debut last week.
The two sides equally tested each other in the neck-and-neck game, but the higher ranking Costa Ricans had a more accurate rate and effective offense. Costa Rica is ranked 15th in FIFA rankings, while Korea is 63rd.
After clinching a 2-0 win over Paraguay with a surprising starting eleven four days ago, newly appointed Stielike again brought a notable change to the team. But Costa Rican midfielder Celso Borges' brace of goals made his bid not so successful this time.
After interim coach Paulo Wanchope took the helm of the Costa Ricans, he discarded the team's trademark three-back defense and placed four defenders to play more aggressive football. And the tactic was successful against the Taeguk Warriors.
In the 4th minute Costa Rica's Johan Venegas launched a volley but Korea's goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu easily denied the effort.
Six minutes later, Korea's Park Joo-ho responded with a powerful left-footed shot, but it veered slightly left of goalkeeper Keilor Navas.
In the first ten-minute period, both side's labored midfielders tested their opponents and put overdrive in their performance to intercept the ball.
The two sides also had chances in the 15th and 18th minutes, but neither exploited them. In the 15th minute, Korea's striker Lee Dong-gook floated a volley and Costa Rica tested Kim with a deflected cross, which was cleared just before it crossed the goal line.
The Koreans struggled with the Costa Ricans' solid defense in the first half. The brilliance they showed in the previous game was hardly noticed and they eventually allowed a score to Borges.
In the 37th minute, Bryan Ruiz dropped the ball with a header to assist Borges power a right-footed volley and score the game's first goal in to the left lower side of the Korean goalmouth.
As a fierce battle for the ball occurred constantly in the midfield, players lying injured on the ground became commonplace, with Korea's Park replaced by Kim Min-woo early in the first half.
Korea leveled the game in the 45th minute, with veteran striker Lee flicked Son Heung-min's cross into the net. It was the veteran striker's 33rd goal in 133 international appearances.
But Borges rose again in the 46th minute to take the lead back. After David Ramirez created havoc in the right side of the penalty box and delivered a precise cross, Borges scored easily with a back heel.
The Koreans went out for attack, but their efforts were ineffective in breaking through a barricade of defenders.
In the 77th minute, Costa Rica's Oscar Duarte headed Ruiz's corner into the goal to extend the lead. Korea's coaching staff appealed to the referees that Duarte committed foul while scoring, but this was not accepted.
Korea's captain, Ki Sung-yueng, flicked a deflected free kick into the Costa Rican net, but it was ruled out for offside.
The game was the Koreans' last friendly match this year on their home soil. In November, they will fly to the Middle East to face Jordan and Iran. A month later, they will fly to Australia to compete in the 2015 Asian Cup.