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S. Korea advances to Asian Cup semifinal vs. Japan

Posted January. 24, 2011 10:44,   

한국어

The national soccer team has advanced to the Asian Cup semifinals against Japan with a 1-0 overtime win over Iran Saturday in Doha, Qatar.

At Qatar Sports Club Stadium, substitute midfielder Yoon Bit-garam scored the winning goal in the first overtime period. The Taegeuk Warriors will face Tuesday archrival Japan, which edged host nation Qatar, 3-2, Thursday.

Iran coach Afshin Ghotbi called the game a “classical event” given the tough contest. South Korea and Iran played against each other in their fifth straight quarterfinal.

The Taegeuk Warriors dominated the match until the second half, getting scoring opportunities from the 10th minute through fast and pinpoint passing through various attacks and giving no room to the Iranians.

Team Melli showed signs of life toward the end of the second half. South Korea coach Cho Kwang-rae then replaced the tired midfielder Koo Ja-cheol with Yoon in the 81st minute, which allowed Cho’s team to control the midfield.

In overtime, Yoon unleashed a left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty box and found the lower left corner of the goal in the 105th minute. The Iranians desperately sought to tie but the South Koreans held them off to ensure that Yoon’s goal would mean victory.

The win was South Korea’s first versus Iran since Oct. 12, 2005. The Taegeuk Warriors are 9-9 versus Team Melli with seven draws.

The winner of the South Korea-Japan semifinal will play the winner of the Australia-Uzbekistan semifinal. The Middle East thus saw all four of its teams – Iraq, Iran, Qatar and Jordan – eliminated from the tournament.



kimsk@donga.com