| Coach for the day, Kim Pyong Sok, may have secured the South Korea job for a
little longer following his side's deserved draw with Belgium, which, along with
Mexico's draw with Holland, dashed the Belgian's hopes of progressing to the
last sixteen. Pyong Sok, whose only previous coaching experience was with South
Korea's womens side, replaced Cha Bum Kun after heavy defeats in their two
previous group games but pride was restored with an outstanding performance in
a game which South Korea could and should have won. One tactical change
which served South Korea well, was the decision by Pyong Sok to switch from a
man marking system employed in their two defeats, to a flat back four which
comfortably contained Belgium's lack of attacking intent. Belgian counterpart,
Georges Leekens, gave a vote of confidence to under-fire strikers Luis Oliveria
and Luc Nilis by charging both with the responsibility of firing his side into the
second phase, and Nilis appeared to have repaid his manager's faith with in the
seventh minute when he opened the scoring. But thereafter Belgium decended
into monotony and instead of pressing home their early advantage, the Red
Devils allowed South Korea the greater possession and territory. Indeed, the
Koreans were unfortunate not to equalise on 22 minutes when they beat the
off-side trap but Jung Wan Seo's first touch allowed 'keeper Vande Walle to
collect and clear the danger. South Korea could consider themselves desperately
unlucky not to be on level terms at half-time and far from suggesting that Belgium
could increase their lead, a lack of ideas and imagination when coming forward
saw the Europeans leave the field to a chorus of whistles and boos from a
support expecting much more from their side. First half goalscorer Nilis tried to
provide that spark of excitement six minutes after the break when, following some
superb close control on the edge of the box, he beat two defenders before
smacking the bar with the 'keeper well beaten. They were left to rue the missed
chance as South Korea equalised with a brilliantly executed free-kick, converted
at the back post by the sliding Sang-Chul Yoo. In the last quarter, striker
Yong-Soo Choi had three golden chances to give South Korea their first Finals
victory in fourteen attempts. He headed over twice when unmarked close-in and
then ten miunutes from time, they again beat Belgium's attempts to play off-side
but Choi fired wide with only the 'keeper to beat. In reality, Mexico's draw with
Holland meant that Belgium needed not only to win, but to win by three clear
goals, a task which was clearly beyond them this afternoon. |
(1-0) Nilis (7). Ver Kerckhoven flicked on a corner at the near post, Vidovic, at the far post then had his header
cleared off the line by Do-Keun Kim and Nilis, running on to the breaking ball, hammered home a
right-foot shot between the 'keeper and the Kim on the post from ten yards. |
(1-1) Yoo, SC (71). Ha sent over a left foot free-kick from the left, Sang Chul Yoo got beyond the defence and stretched at
the far post to reach the ball and turn it into the net from three yards. |
