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Played
August 1, 2012 5:00 PM BST
Wembley Stadium — London
Referee:‬ P. Kralovec‎
Attendance:‬ 76927‎
 

South Korea - Gabon Preview: Taeguk Warriors will progress with a point

Hong Myung-Bo's side need just a draw to qualify for the quarter-finals whilst the Panthers must win to stand any chance of reaching the knockout phase

By Daniel Kellard

More On :  Gabon U-23, South Korea Under 23, South Korea Under 23 vs Gabon U-23
CAN 2012 : Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon vs Tunisia)
Panoramic
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

SOUTH KOREA

Jung
Yoon, Y Kim, Hwang, C Kim
B Kim, Ki, Cheol, Nam
Park, Ji
GABON

Ovono
Dinda, Manga, Engonga, Ndoumbou
Madinda, Tandjigora, Obiang, Boussoughou
Aubameyang, Ndong

South Korea coach Hong Myung-Bo has no injury or suspension concerns ahead of the game, and is likely to continue with a strike pairing of Arsenal's Chu-Young Park and Sunderland forward Dong-Won Ji.

Bo-Kyung Kim scored a fine goal in the Koreans' win over Switzerland and, after recently signing for Cardiff City, will be hoping for another strong performance on the flanks.

Auxerre defender Henri Ndong will sit out the final group game due to suspension after being sent off in the Panthers' 2-0 defeat to Mexico last time out.

Otherwise the African side have no problems and will name the strongest side possible as they search for an unlikely progression to the next phase.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • South Korea have only qualified for the quarter-finals of the Olympics twice. They first reached the last eight back in 1948 when the Games were also in London and then the 2004 Athens Olympics.
  • They are managed by Hong Myung-Bo (pictured) who was the recipient of the 2002 Fifa World Cup Bronze ball. No other Asian player has ever achieved this feat.
  • The last time South Korea progressed from the group stage of the Olympics they were also in the same group as Mexico.
  • Gabon are making their first ever appearance at the Games.
  • If the Panthers become Olympic champions, they will be the third African victors in the last five tournaments following on from successes for Nigeria in 1996 and Cameroon in 2000.
  • Their coach Claude Albert Mbourounot previously coached the Gabon senior team in 2003.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • South Korea Under 23 2-0 Gabon U-23
    21.31 %
  • South Korea Under 23 3-0 Gabon U-23
    15.57 %
  • South Korea Under 23 1-0 Gabon U-23
    9.84 %
Head to Head
Olympic Games ‎(OLY)‎ 1 Aug 2012 South Korea Under 23 0 - Gabon U-23 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Last Five Matches
South Korea Under 23
10 Aug 2012South Korea Under 23 2 - Japan Under 23 0OLY
7 Aug 2012Brazil Under 23 3 - South Korea Under 23 0OLY
4 Aug 2012Great Britain U-23 1 - South Korea Under 23 1OLY
1 Aug 2012South Korea Under 23 0 - Gabon U-23 0OLY
29 Jul 2012South Korea Under 23 2 - Switzerland U-23 1OLY
Gabon U-23
1 Aug 2012South Korea Under 23 0 - Gabon U-23 0OLY
29 Jul 2012Mexico U-23 2 - Gabon U-23 0OLY
26 Jul 2012Gabon U-23 1 - Switzerland U-23 1OLY
10 Dec 2011Gabon U-23 2 - Morocco U-23 1OCaf
6 Dec 2011Senegal U-23 0 - Gabon U-23 1OCaf
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
1Sung-Ryong JungGoalkeeper
3Suk-Young YoonDefender
22Young-Gwon KimDefender
12Seok-Ho HwangDefender
-Chang-Soo KimDefender
16Sung-Yong KiMidfielder
7Bo-Kyung KimMidfielder
8Sung-Dong BaekMidfielder
13Koo Ja-CheolMidfielder
15Jong-Woo ParkMidfielder
10Chu-Young ParkStriker
18Beom-Young LeeGoalkeeper
2Jae-Seok OhDefender
-Ki-Hee KimMidfielder
19Tae-Hee NamMidfielder
-Woo-Young JungMidfielder
10Dong-Won JiStriker
17Hyun-Sung KimStriker
1D. OvonoGoalkeeper
-Muller DindaDefender
-Stevy Guevane NzambèDefender
-F. EngongaMidfielder
14Lévy Clément MadindaMidfielder
12Merlin TandjigoraMidfielder
-C. BoussoughouMidfielder
-E. NdongMidfielder
-Landry Jerry Obiang ObiangMidfielder
9Pierre-Emerick AubameyangStriker
-Axel Méyé Me NdongStriker
-Anthony M'Fa
4R. EbanegaDefender
-H. NdongDefender
32Alexander NdoumbouMidfielder
-Samson MbinguiMidfielder
-André Biyogho PokoMidfielder
-Allen NonoStriker
Players to Watch
Chu-Young Park
Chu-Young Park
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
6 2 1 0
Although struggling to make first team appearances with Arsenal, the striker has the ability to be a game changer. He scored in his side's victory over Switzerland and also has the experience of playing in big tournaments after representing his country in the 2010 World Cup.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 9
Games Goals YC RC
3 1 0 0
The Saint Etienne frontman scored in his country's opening game against Switzerland and possesses great physical strength. With Gabon needing to win the game to stay in the tournament expect Aubameyang to play a key role, with his pace and power vital.
Prediction
With Gabon needing to win the game in order to progress and South Korea still requiring a point to be sure of qualification, it should be an open contest.

However, the pressure is on the Panthers to grab victory which should allow the Taeguk Warriors to have chances on the break.

Expect a brave and determined performance from Gabon but for them to eventually fall to a defeat against a more experienced South Korean outfit.
Editor's Prediction
South Korea U-23 2
Gabon U-23 0
Results
Matchday 3
Times In BST
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Leandro Damião Leandro Damião
Striker
Internacional 		6 0
Moussa Konaté Moussa Konaté
Striker
Krasnodar 		5 0
O. Peralta O. Peralta
Striker
Santos Laguna 		4 0
Giovani dos Santos Giovani dos Santos
Striker
Mallorca 		3 1
Neymar Neymar
Striker
Santos 		3 1

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