S. Korea Beats Portugal 1-0, Cruises into World Cup 2nd Round

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, June 15, 2002

S. Korea Beats Portugal 1-0, Cruises into World Cup 2nd Round

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S. Korea Beats Portugal 1-0

World Cup co-host South Korea advanced to the second round of the premier soccer tournament for the first time Friday evening in Inchon when they beat nine-man Portugal 1-0 and became the winner of the group D on seven points.

South Korea's Park Ji-sung fired a close-range shot home in the70th minute, giving his team the 1-0 lead which converted to the final winner.

In the 27th minute, Portugal's midfielder Joao Pinto was red-carded for a serious foul on Kim Tae-young from behind.

In the 65th minute, Portugal's Rui Jorge was sent off by getting the second yellow card in the match for fouling on Lee young-pyo, which put his side into the embarrassment of playing with nine men.

Portugal are very disappointed at being knocked out of the World Cup and disagreed with the award of two red cards, Portugal coach Antonio Oliveira said after the match.

He said: "We are very, very disappointed. This is not the result we expected when we started. We did not achieve out goal, which was to reach the second round," he added after the group D game."

"At the end of the night I have to compliment South Korea and wish them luck," he said.

"We did not agree with the referee's decisions (on the two red cards) but there's no point going on about that now," he added.

Before and after the out of the two Portuguese players, South Koreans dominated the match with solid defense and fast-pace attacks. They created more and more scoring chances than their opponents but missed many of them.

A goal for South Korea in the 30th was whistled off for a foul on Portugal's goalkeeper Vitor Baia beforehand.

In the 47th minute, South Korea's forward Seol Ki-hyeon headed a pass narrowly wide. His teammate Yoo Sang-chul missed the same kind of chance five minutes later.

South Koreans also made two solo-runs near the end of the game,but Portugal's goalkeeper Vitor Baia rushed out and saved all of them.

Portugal, who suffered a lot from the incredible loss of two men, rallied to launch waves of counteroffensives in the last ten minutes, during which a powerful volley hit the left pole and a close-range shot was saved by South Korean goalkeeper Lee Woon-jaeand a curling free kick by talented midfielder Luis Figo flew narrowly wide.

In the 62nd minute, Portugal's striker Pauleta, who collected ahat-trick against Poland, also missed a scoring chance by poweringa brilliant header to the top-left corner of the goal, which was unfortunately tipped out by the goalkeeper.

The well-known "Golden Generation" of the Portuguese squad leftthe pitch with tears because they crashed out of the competition with two defeats and only one win.

In another last round group D match between Poland and the United States in Taejon, South Korea, starting at the same time, although Poland dominated the match and routed their opponents 3-1,the Americans were not upset because South Korea's win had alreadysent them to the runner-up of the group with one win and one tie. They became the most lucky squad to get the last ticket for the knock-out stage of the World Cup.

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