S. Korea Gets First World Cup Win
Tue Jun 4,11:20 AM ET
By JOHN PYE, AP Sports Writer
With their first World Cup victory achieved — at last — the South Koreans are looking higher.
Photos
AP Photo
In its sixth trip to the world soccer championship, South Korea (news - web sites) scored its first win, a one-sided 2-0 victory Tuesday night over Poland that sparked an outpouring of relief and euphoria.
In front of a constantly chanting crowd of 48,760 decked out almost exclusively in red shirts to support the "Red Devils," the Korean team capped Asia's biggest day at FIFA's showpiece event. Veteran Hwang Sun-hong scored in the 26th minute and Yoo Sang-chul sent a right-footed drive home in the 53rd minute.
"I am so satisfied with attaining our long-cherished ambition," defender Hong Myung-bo said. "Until today we had one aim, to win the game against Poland. But, as you know, someone's aim can always be changed.
"We set another aim here, to prepare perfectly for the game against the USA (on Monday)."
The Koreans had gone winless in five previous World Cup appearances, including the last four tournaments. But under enormous pressure to reach the second round after local organizers spent eight years and billions of dollars preparing to stage the event with co-host Japan, they responded superbly.
All three of the Far East's entries in the tournament played Tuesday. Japan tie 2-2 with Belgium and China, making its World Cup debut, lost to Costa Rica 2-0.
The Koreans showed improvement with a 4-1 win over Scotland, a 1-1 tie with England and a 3-2 loss to defending world champion France in tuneups. But few outside South Korea expected such a dominating performance against Poland.
The first European team to qualify for the World Cup — apart from France, which got an automatic spot — Poland has struggled since.
It was no match for the Koreans.
"We've played many teams with a higher ranking in FIFA and we traveled a lot through Europe," said South Korea's Dutch coach, Guus Hiddink. "We had to make a tough road for them, and they have improved. I thought it was the only way in a short period to get them prepared for the World Cup."
For the entire second half, the fans chanted: "Oh, Oh, Korea!" "Oh, Pilsung Korea," meaning "Korea's sure to win!"
And it did.
Polish goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, a standout in the English Premier League and rated among the best goalies in this tournament, was not sharp.
Hwang, 33, opened his fourth World Cup campaign with a bang, connecting with a neat cross from Lee Eul-yong, driving a left-footed volley beyond Dudek's outstretched hands. Hwang was totally unmarked on the goal.
Dudek got both hands to Yoo's drive, but didn't get enough grip to stop the powerful shot.
Yoo also found the back of the net in the 38th minute, but didn't get the goal because he was ruled offside.
"It was a very difficult game. The host team in the first game is always very strong," coach Jerzy Engel said. "They were better than us."
In central Seoul, thousands of red-clad soccer fans jumped up and down shouting "We won! We won!"
Firecrakers and confetti flew in the night sky amid roaring cheers from the fans who watched the game on a giant screen.
"They should make today a national holiday. It's a historic night," said Kim Dae-sung, a 18-year-old high school student, donning the red national team uniform.
Shouting "Korea! Korea! Hiddink! Hiddink!," Kim and thousands of fans marched down an eight-lane boulevard. Hundreds of police controlled traffic, allowing fans watch the game on the street.
When the fans left, they stopped to pick up garbage strewn throughout the plaza and placed it in bags.
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누가 이것좀 번역해서 새로 올려주세영!!
