The Hindu : Koreans sink Spanish armada

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 23, 2002

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Koreans sink Spanish armada

A WALL OF SUPPORT: South Korean players run towards supporters after winning their quarterfinal match against Spain at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Gwangju, on Saturday. South Korea will meet Germany in the semi-final match in Seoul on Tuesday. — AFP

GWANGJU (South Korea) JUNE 22. South Korea's giant-killing at the World Cup goes on and on: First, Portugal, then Italy, now Spain.

Next up: three-time World Cup winner Germany?

After 120 minutes without a goal, South Korea scored all its penalties in a shootout to win 5-3. Skipper Hong Myung-bo drilled in the winning kick that sent South Korea into the semifinals — the first time an Asian team has got that far. It also condemned Spain to another failure.

Joaquin Sanchez, Betis' 21-year-old midfielder, had his penalty saved at 4-3 and Hong then stepped up to set up a semifinal clash with Germany on Tuesday at Seoul. ``I just thought that I must make the goal,'' the 33-year-old defender said. ``I was nervous, but since we had an advantage I could kick with some confidence.''

Going into the World Cup it is co-hosting with Japan, South Korea hadn't won a match at five previous trips to soccer's showpiece dating back to 1954.

Hong had been on three of those unsuccessful campaigns and, until Dutchman Guus Hiddink took over as national coach 18 months ago, the veteran defender never imagined he'd be taking a winning kick in the World Cup quarterfinals. ``As we go on, I think we can beat any team ... including Germany,'' he said. I can't tell the difference between a dream or reality.''

Hiddink became the first coach to take two different nations to the World Cup semifinals. He guided his native Netherlands to the semifinals in France four years ago.

``I cannot describe how I am feeling. I am so happy for the boys. I think now it is a complete dream,'' said Hiddink.

``First we would like to have a little glass of champagne now and prepare for the next game. What comes tomorrow is tomorrow,'' he added.

After drawing with the United States and beating Poland, Portugal, Italy and Spain, the Koreans are confident they can now beat the Germans, who reached the semis on a narrow 1-0 win Friday over the United States.

Spain, aiming for its first World Cup semifinals berth in 11 attempts, hit the back of the net three times — once in each half and again in extra time — but each time the goal was disallowed.

Coach Jose Camacho joined in the mounting criticism of the tournament's referees.

``We expected the officiating to be better. This was a quarterfinal match after all,'' the Spain coach said.

``It hurts,'' he said of his team's elimination, but added: ``Congratulations to the Korean team for their victory.''

In the shootout, South Korea's other successful penalties were taken by Hwang Sun-hong, Park Ji-sung, Seol Ki-hyeon and Ahn Jung-hwan. For Spain, Fernando Hierro, Ruben Baraja and Xavi Hernandez scored.

Goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae made the crucial save from Joaquin, but refused to take all the credit.

``I've never lost on a penalty shoot out since 1998, so I was confident,'' he said. ``I thought if I kept my composure I could block one or two goals. But we won because the other players kicked so well.''

The stadium erupted into chanting of ``Pilseung Korea'' — ``Victory Korea'' — as the players did a lap of the field, holding flags over their heads.

Hiddink said South Korea's unprecedented run was ``so outrageous, it's almost without limits.''

The teams:

Spain: 1-Iker Casillas, 4-Ivan Helguera (19-Xavi Hernandez, 94), 5-Carles Puyol, 6-Fernando Hierro (c), 8-Ruben Baraja, 9-Fernando Morientes, 11-Javi de Pedro (16-Gaizka Mendieta, 70), 15-Enrique Romero, 17-Juan Carlos Valeron (21-Luis Enrique, 80), 20-Miguel Angel Nadal, 22-Joaquin Sanchez.

South Korea: 1-Lee Woon-jae, 4-Choi Jin-cheul, 5-Kim Nam-il (13-Lee Eul-yong, 32), 6-Yoo Sang-chul (14-Lee Chun-soo, 61), 7-Kim Tae-young (18-Hwang Sun-hong, 90), 9-Seol Ki-hyeon, 10-Lee Young-pyo, 19-Ahn Jung-hwan, 20-Hong Myung-bo (c), 21-Park Ji-sung, 22-Song Chong-gug.

Referee: Gamal Ghandour, Egypt.— AP

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