South Korea Qualify For World Cup With Win Over UAE

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.

Get ready for the World Cup on and off the pitch at Goal.com Road To Africa.