Hosts South Korea have already claimed the scalps of Portugal and Italy
as they sought to defeat a third European nation.
The Koreans made plenty of early use of the backpass to
goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae, while the home crowd tried to encourage them to press the
Spaniards more with their relentless chanting.
With twenty minutes gone, neither goalkeeper had been
tested by their opponents..... but in the 24th minute Lee had to punch out a Francisco De
Pedro free-kick from the right side of the area.
Two minutes later, Lee Woon-Jae held onto a Fernando
Morientes header and was grateful that his left post stopped him from falling over the
line with the ball.
Just after the half-hour Hierro headed onto the roof of the
net, from a corner, as Spain started to have more of the chances.
Five minutes before the break, Morientes missed a golden
opportunity to slip on a right-wing cross from Joaquin Sanchez that goalkeeper Lee failed
to cut out. And Spain continued to look the side most likely to score right up to
half-time.
Half-time: Spain 0 -- South Korea 0
Four minutes after the restart and a Spanish goal was
disallowed. Hard to see why; unless you believe in conspiracy theories.
South Korea started to pass the ball around and trouble the
Spaniards; Iker Casillas keeping out a close-range drive from Park Ji-Sung, in the 66th
minute.
Spain had two days more rest than South Korea but the
Europeans started to tire before the Asians as the game went into extra-time; with the
game remaining goalless after 90 minutes.
Extra-Time:
South Korea won against Italy in extra-time and Spain
managed to beat Ireland on penalties.... thanks largely to Casillas.
Spain had another goal disallowed, when the linesman judged
(falsely) that the ball had gone out of play -- before Morientes planted the header.
In the 100th minute, Morientes turned on a long throw and
crashed his shot against the left post.... a shot worthy of the golden goal.
Neither side managed to break the other down and score a
golden goal.
PENALTIES --
South
Korea -- 5
Spain -- 3
18 -- Scored
6 -- Scored
21 -- Scored
8 -- Scored
9 -- Scored
19 -- Scored
19 -- Scored
22 -- Saved
20 -- Scored
Final Score: Spain 0 -- South Korea 0 After Extra Time
South Korea's penalty win gives them a semi-final
match with Germany.
