For their part, the Koreans were slow in tracking
the opponents’ runs, and their marking was questionable on several instances.
They capitalised on the loose balls straying in midfield from the Africans as
they entered the penalty box looking for the opening goal.
It was Algeria who found the elusive ball. They won
a midfield duel, quickly sent a long ball from behind the centre circle over
the central defence by Medjani, between two Koreans. Slimani chased for the
ball towards goal, sandwiched by his markers, touched the ball with his tummy
as he entered the penalty box, and dinked the ball over the advancing
goalkeeper’s left shoulder.
The Asians did not press the passer of the ball.
They were caught square and far apart. They did not tackle their man and the
goalkeeper could have delayed his advance as Slimani still had the attention of
the defenders. The goal spurred the Algerians on as they won a corner kick.
Djabou supplied a perfect corner to the middle of
the goal. Halliche out jumped the defence to score the second. The marking was
atrocious as they allowed a free header. The goalkeeper came off his line and
missed the ball after misjudging the flight of the ball.
The third goal came after very quick inter-passing.
There was a degree of patience on possession as Algeria grew in confidence and
put their foot on the ball. In a two versus two situation, the Koreans hesitated
to mark tightly and Slimani squared the ball to Djabou to score past a
defenceless Sung-Ryong Jung.
The South Koreans came into the second half in
serious mood and looked set to turn the game on its head. Each man put in a
double shift and they fought for the each other until the equaliser came. In
similar circumstances to the goal that they conceded, a long ball from the left
of midfield beyond the centre line by Ki Sung Yeung hit H. Son on his back. He
turned around to pick it up, turn again to face the goal and fire a shot
between Rais’ legs. The marking by the Africans was suspicious as they let the
Asians play the long ball. They failed to clear the ball in the penalty area.
There were two consecutive goal-scoring
opportunities after that goal, but the Koreans failed to convert them. Their
best spell by far of the match turned into heartache as the first threat to
their goal resulted in Algeria getting the fourth. A pass across the midfield
from right to left found Ibrahimi who played a wall pass with Feghouli and
side-footed a shot into goal. There was too much space for the Algerian attack
and no one tracked the run of the scorer.
South Korea showed a lot of determination and
refused to throw in the towel. They resorted to the long ball again. It came
from the left side of the midfield to the right of the central position. As the
panicking Algerian defence tried to deal with the situation, the ball was
squared by Lee Kuen-Ho to the middle of the penalty area, almost into the 12-yard
box. Koo Ja-Choel scored from close range, placing the ball to the far post.
The match tempo remained high and both teams spared
no energy in attacking each other. The determination of the Koreans kept them
going to the bemusement of their opponents who thought they had supped all the
joules out of the pint-sized Asians. Despite fighting for a losing cause, they
put a marvellous and brave show, fought tooth and nail in midfield duels and
chased each and every ball, covered for each other and above all, believed that
they could get something out of the match until the final whistle.
What a match! 4-2 it ended.
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