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catman
Joined: 18 Jul 2004
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 Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 5:34 pm Post subject: South Korea qualifies for its seventh consecutive World Cup |
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South Korea Qualify For World Cup With Win Over UAE
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1649/wcq-2010-...th-win-over-uae
It's a seventh successive appearance on the gloabl stage for Asia's most successful team...
South Korea qualified for the 2010 World Cup on Saturday evening with a 2-0 win over UAE in Dubai.
First half goals from Park Chu-young and Ki Sung-yung put the Group Two leaders in control against the bottom team and they never looked in danger of relinquishing that, despite playing for most of the second half with ten men.
The 2002 World Cup semi-finalists are guaranteed to finish in the top two places. North Korea or Saudi Arabia could overtake the leaders but as the two teams currently in second and third meet on the final day, only one can leapfrog South Korea.
The deadlock was broken after just eight minutes to get the sizeable Korean contingent of fans, who outnumbered the home supporters, on their feet at Al Wasl Stadium.
A flick from Lee Chung-yung was chested down by Park Chu-young inside the area and the Monaco marksman held off the challenge of a defender to stab the ball past Majed Naser in the UAE goal.
Eight minutes before the break, UAE gifted their visitors a second. A long ball into the box was chested in the direction of the goalkeeper by Mohahmmed Qaas.
A diving Naser had some distance to travel to keep the ball going out for a corner. He did so but succeeded only in hooking the ball into the path of Ki who rolled the ball into an empty net.
Five minutes into the second half, UAE were given a lifeline as Kim Jung-woo was sent off for a second bookable offence and kicking the ball away before a UAE free-kick
The decision did give the hosts a lift but the Korean defence coped admirably with UAE�s attempts.
Korea still threatened with Lee Chung-yung failing to find the target when through on goal with 20 minutes remaining.
Late in the game, UAE were also reduced to ten men as Hilal Saeed was given his marching orders for a late tackle on Park Ji-sung. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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I just read last night:
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Japan becomes first team to qualify for 2010 World Cup
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan -- For the second time in a row, Japan has become the first side to qualify for a World Cup, booking its spot with a 1-0 win at Uzbekistan on Saturday.
The tense victory secured Japan's spot alongside host South Africa at football's showpiece event, with the Asian side securing a fourth successive World Cup finals berth.
Asian Group A rival Australia was expected to join Japan in progressing Saturday, needing only a point from its visit to Qatar.
Meanwhile, North Korea missed an opportunity to take a large stride toward South Africa, being held to a 0-0 home draw by Iran in Group B. That result did little for either side, with Iran's qualification hopes now hanging by a thread.
Japan's unusual goal came in the ninth minute. Kengo Nakamura looped a pass into path of Shinji Okazaki. Under pressure from a defender and stumbling, Okazaki got a shot away which was blocked at close range by Uzbek keeper Ignatiy Nesterov, but the Japan striker -- falling to the ground -- somehow managed to get his head to the rebound and put it into the net.
The visitors got the ball in the net again soon after, but it was ruled out for offside. Japan carved out the best opportunities throughout the match, but was increasingly on the back foot in the last 15 minutes.
Server Djeparov came close to scoring on a few occasions, and Japan midfielder Makoto Hasebe was shown a straight red card in the 89th minute for raising an arm into the face of the Uzbek winger when blocking.
Japan manager Takeshi Okada was sent to the stands for protesting that decision and may not have seen Uzbekistan's closest attempt in stoppage time when Islom Tukhtahujaev's long-range shot was deflected and Japan keeper Seigo Narazaki had to scramble to tip it onto the bar and away to safety.
The result put Uzbekistan on the brink of elimination. To get third spot in the group, and a further playoff, it must rely on Bahrain losing away to Australia on Wednesday, and it then must win away at Bahrain the following week, while also hoping not to be overtaken in the standings by last-placed Qatar.
In Group B, both North Korea and Iran were unsatisfied with their 0-0 draw.
With the top two teams from the five-team group to qualify directly for South Africa 2010 and the third-placed team to go into a further playoff, Iran stays in fourth with seven points from six games.
It faces a must-win home game against the already eliminated United Arab Emirates on Wednesday before a final fixture away to first-placed South Korea.
Victory for North Korea would have secured at least a playoff spot, but it now must either win its final game away to Saudi Arabia on June 17, or hope other results go its way.
Iran was the better team for the first half. Osasuna midfielder Masoud Shojaei tested goalkeeper Ri Myung Guk after just four minutes, turning and hitting a first time shot from close range that Ri just managed to turn onto the post.
Bochum striker Vahid Hashemian shot narrowly wide five minutes before the break.
North Korea, displaying greater physical reserves than Iran, got on top in the second half.
With the clock running down, Park Nam Chol produced a fierce shot that was heading toward the top right corner, forcing a superb diving save by Iran's goalkeeper Seyed Rahmati.
In stoppage time, Hong Yong Jo had the best chance of the game. With Rahmati advancing well out of his area to stifle a counter attack, Hong just had to round the keeper and have a shot at an open net from 30 metres. He instead elected to take a first-time shot that was well off target. |
http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=281082 |
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JMO
Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Location: Daegu
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| Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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| I wish Ireland was relocated to Asia by FIFA. then we would get to go to every world cup too. Wouldn't that be nice. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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hellofaniceguy
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: On your computer screen!
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| Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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| 7 times...and how many times have they won the cup? |
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bundangbabo
Joined: 01 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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| hellofaniceguy wrote: |
| 7 times...and how many times have they won the cup? |
Be fair - not many teams win the world cup - outside of Germany, Brazil, Argentina and Italy - most teams are a long shot - France and England won it on their home turf, Uruguay won it twice over 50 years ago - teams that could have won it (the Dutch in 74 and 78 and the Hungarians in 54) bottled it in the final - mind you - I fancy Spain next year... |
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JMO
Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Location: Daegu
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| Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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| hellofaniceguy wrote: |
| 7 times...and how many times have they won the cup? |
Since its inception only 7 teams have won it, including some countries that produced some great, great teams. I'm thinking Spain, Hungary, Holland etc.
It's no shame to not have won a world cup.
edit: lol didn't see the above post. yea Spain are the early favorites. if ireland don't make it ill follow the teams that play the nice stuff. last time it was argentina..hopefully spain give us a show next time. |
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victorology
Joined: 10 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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| hellofaniceguy wrote: |
| 7 times...and how many times have they won the cup? |
Your point is? |
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b-class rambler
Joined: 25 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 12:15 am Post subject: |
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Of course, the Asian region is much easier to qualify from than Europe or South America. I'm sure no-one who has even the vaguest understanding of the game would deny that.
But qualifying for it 7 consecutive times is still a damn fine achievement. Korea has also done it with relative ease from what was considered to be the much more difficult of the 2 qualifying groups.
Personally, I think the Koreans lacking a clinical finisher up front is likely to prevent them from having much of a chance of getting far in South Africa. It's something they've not had for some time now. But I hope they give a decent account of themselves and am reasonably confident they will. |
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alphakennyone
Joined: 01 Aug 2005
Location: city heights
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| Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 12:31 am Post subject: |
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After one of Korea's wins in 2006, I heard for the first and last time "night noises" in my apartment building.
A bit sad, really...The enthusiasm for it is just so forced. They'll never recreate the atmosphere of 2002 (wasn't there, but I can imagine), but they'll sure try. |
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catman
Joined: 18 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Apparently they have a young team as well. Pick up some important experience for 2014. |
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