South Korea reach Asian Cup final
January 26, 2015
South Korea are dreaming of winning the Asian Cup for the first time in 55 years after easing past outsiders Iraq with a 2-0 victory in Syndey.
One of Asia's international football powerhouses, South Korea haven't reached the final of the continent's major international tournament for 27 years, saving their success for the World Cup with the Red Devils qualifying for every edition since 1986.
With a core of Bundesliga-based players at the heart of the team, German coach Uli Stielike has formed a side with a solid defensive structure that hasn't conceded a goal in the tournament and technically strong players in attack.
Iraq were the 2007 Asian champions with Younis Mahmoud, the team captain, scoring the decisive match-winner in the final eight years ago, amid threats of kidnappings and an ongoing war preventing many of the team from celebrating in the country. However, the Iraq team was considerably second-best in this semifinal with the class of Bayer Leverkusen's Son Heung-Min shining through to power the Red Devils to victory.
Son drew a reflex save from the Iraqi keeper in the 19th minute and, less than a minute later, Lee Jeong-Hyeop leapt highest inside the box to open the scoring.
Five minutes after the restart, Lee was influential in South Korea's clinching goal, cushioning the ball into the path of Guangzhou Evergrande center-back Kim-Young Gwon, who powered the ball past the keeper with a half-volley.
South Korea will take on either Australia or the United Arab Emirates in the final, which takes place on Saturday at the 83,000-seater Stadium Australia.
rd/apc (AFP, Reuters)