Korea Republic 3-1 Australia: Taegeuk Warriors Sink Socceroos

After all the build-up and controversy, the Koreans came good as they outgunned their fellow Asian giants in Seoul.

Sep 5, 2009 3:33:39 PM

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Park Chu Young (Korea-Paraguay Friendly)

It was Huh Jung-Moo’s men who began the match the sharpest and they were rewarded with the opening goal just six minutes into the match.

The Koreans pounced on an error by A-League defender Shane Stefanutto, Bolton Wanderers midfielder Lee Chung-Yong slipping the ball into the path of Park Chu-Young.

The Monaco striker made an intelligent run in behind a slightly lethargic Australian back-line and slid the ball past Mark Schwarzer from a narrow angle.

Making an uncharacteristically flat start to the match, the Socceroos almost found themselves a goal down on 19 minutes when the goal-scorer saw his speculative long-range effort wrong-foot Schwarzer, though the Fulham man recovered in time to get behind the shot.

A second goal wasn’t too far away though as Lee Jung-Soo flicked the ball home following some more slack Australian defending on 21 minutes.

Another of the side’s foreign contingent to make an impact, the Kyoto Sanga man was given the simplest of finishes from close range when Kim Jung-Woo was left alone to head the ball back across goal at the far post.

Josh Kennedy’s boot was stuck out in vein to keep the ball out and he took it upon himself to pull a goal back barely two minutes later, showing good movement in the area to meet and flick just past the post a floated Brett Holman cross.

Gradually working their way back into the game, the Socceroos would have their equalizer on 34 minutes courtesy of a rather poor piece of judgment from veteran Korea ‘keeper Lee Woon-Jae

Patrick Kisnorbo was given an empty net to head into after the 36 year-old was caught in no-man’s land as he failed to effectively meet a Marco Bresciano free-kick.

Despite building momentum in an attacking capacity, the visitors were in danger of being undone by their own lack of concentration at the back, Kim Dong-Jin drawing a sharp save from Schwazer early in the second half after being left unmarked from a corner.

Shane Stefanutto then came close to atoning for his earlier error with a superb volley on 73 minutes, drawing a good save from Lee Woon-Jae before the shot-stopper was again called upon to do the same to Marco Bresciano’s long-range free-kick minutes later.

The result was put beyond doubt by Fulham’s Seol Ki-Hyeon with three minutes of normal time remaining though, his header crossing the line from Park Ji-Sung’s measured cross despite Schwarzer’s attempts to claw the ball back.

There was still time though for Josh Kennedy to hit the post in injury time as the Socceroos suffered their first loss since their Asian Cup Qualifier against Kuwait.

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