For the first time in World Cup finals history there are
two host nations. South Korea will be hoping for their first World Cup finals victory in
front of the home fans and hopefully make history my qualifying for the second round.
Poland kicked-off from right to left and the first chance
fell to Jacek Krzynowek, who shot into the side-netting when clear into the left side of
the area; one of his favourite scoring positions at FC Nürnberg.
The game started slightly slower than the earlier Japan vs Belgium match, although Poland almost had a second
chance within five minutes.
The Korean fans filled the stadium dressed red and, like
the Japanese, were keen to provide a loud vocal encouragement to their players.
The first real chance for the home side came in the 20th
minute, when Yoo Sang-Chul shot across the face of an outstretched Dudek.
-- GOAL -- 1-0
South Korea started to apply more pressure and took the lead in the 25th minute. Lee
Eul-Young played the ball into Hwang Sun-Hong who hit the ball first time
to lift the roof off the stadium.
Korea continued to take the game to Poland, who seemed to
miss a leader in midfield, and had a goal disallowed for offside in the 38th minute.
When the Koreans break through, Jerzy Dudek looks very
vulnerable and shows little movement off his line to narrow the angle.
Half-time: South Korea 1 -- Poland 0
South Korea, who have played very fair and hardly committed
any fouls, started the second-half full of confidence. Poland on the other hand tried a
similar move down the left to the one that almost got them off to a good start and seem
lacking in ideas.
The Koreans continued to apply the pressure and five
minutes into the second-half Park Ji-Sung was unlucky not to keep his shot lower at the
far post.
-- GOAL -- 2-0
In the 53rd minute South Korea took earned their second goal...... Yoo Sang-Chul
runs toward Tomasz Waldoch and Radoslav Kaluzny, then confidently shoots between them and
past Dudek Even the President of Korea is waving his hat, Korea are on their way to their
first ever win in the World Cup finals.
Seven minutes from time, Jerzy Dudek saved Poland from
total embarrassment by getting down to block Ahn Jung-Hwan's shot at his near post.
In this match, Poland looked totally disappointing and
South Korea very inspired, by their totally committed fans, and should feel satisfied with
this performance; a credit as co-hosts of the tournament.
Gus Hiddink must be proud too; being the only Dutchman at
the World Cup finals.
Player of the Match:
What was his name again? -- The whole team showed such will and discipline that it would
be cruel to single anyone out.
Yellow Cards:
Jacek Krzynowek (32 mins)
Park Ji-Sung (71 mins)
Tomasz Hajto (80 mins)
Piotr Swierczewski (85 mins)
The Teams:
South Korea:
1 Lee Woon-Jae; 4 Choi Jun-Chul, 20 Hong Myung-Bo, 7 Kim Tae-Young; 22 Song Chong-Gug, 13
Lee Eul-Young, 21 Park Ji-Sung, 5 Kim Nam-Il, 6 Yoo Sang-Chul (14 Lee Chun-Soo -- 62mins);
9 Seol Ki-Hyun (16 Cha Doo-Ri -- 89 mins), 18 Hwang Sun-Hong (19 Ahn Jung-Hwan -- 50
mins).
Poland:
1 Jerzy Dudek; 20 Jacek Bak (2 Tomasz Klos -- 51 mins), 6 Tomasz Hajto, 21 Marek
Kozminski, 15 Tomasz Waldoch, 4 Michal Zewlakow; 10 Radoslav Kaluzny (14 Marcin Zewlakow
-- 65 mins), 18 Jacek Krzynowek, 7 Piotr Swierczewski; 11 Emmanuel Olisadebe, 19 Maciej
Zurawski (9 Pawel Kryszalowicz -- 46mins).
