Indonesia's soccer dreams for Sydney 2000 in tatters

JAKARTA (JP): South Korean soundly defeated Indonesia 7-0 in the Asian Zone Group Eight prequalifying tournament for the 2000 Olympic Games on Saturday at Olympic Stadium, Seoul, shattering Indonesia's Sydney dreams.

With three straight victories, South Korea cruises to the second round, where nine first round winners will be divided into three groups. Group winners qualify for the Olympics.

The national soccer team, made up of under 23-year-olds, failed to anticipate the quick moving South Koreans and could not develop its defense strategy, coach Bernhard Schumm said.

He acknowledged that Indonesia's team was inadequately prepared.

"The South Korean squad is superior in every line, including in its speed and physical endurance, Schumm told Antara on Saturday.

South Korea led the first half 4-0 with a hat-trick from ace forward Lee Dong-gook in the 1st, 35th and 40th minute. Team member Park Jin-sub kicked a goal in the 23rd minute.

In the second half, Indonesia goalie Sahari Gultom of PSMS Medan failed to secure his posts a from South Korean raid that produced another three goals from An Hyo-yeon (in the 69th minute and 76th minute) and Lee Kwan-woo (in the 72nd minute).

All Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) spokesman Tondo Widodo, who was present at the match, said Sahari was under sustained pressure during the whole game.

"Sahari played quite well, but it was difficult for him to defend his posts from the continuous attack," he told the news agency.

Strikers Bambang Pamungkas from Persikas in Semarang, Central Java, and Gendut Doni from Diklat Salatiga were powerless to attack, as they were tightly guarded by their opposites.

In a desperate bid to improve the team's performance, Schumm, who was former assistant coach to German champion Bayern Muenchen, replaced Gendut Doni with Nova Zainal of Persikota Tangerang in the second half but the move did not benefit Indonesia.

South Korean coach Wo Chang-hoo said after the match the Indonesian team was not as strong as a video recording of the team playing warm up matches in Malaysia and Hong Kong last month suggested.

He said his team did not face any difficulties defeating Indonesia.

South Korea was one of the Asian qualifiers in the 1998 World Cup in France.

In the opening match on Tuesday, South Korean beat Sri Lanka 5-0, while Indonesia achieved a 2-1 victory over Taiwan. In the second match on Thursday, South Korea comprehensively defeated Taiwan 7-0 and Indonesia overwhelmed Sri Lanka 2-1.

Earlier on Saturday, Taiwan had its first Group 8 win when it beat Sri Lanka 4-1. With the result Taiwan remains in third place, while Sri Lanka was at the bottom of the Group 8 list.

Taiwan's scorers on Saturday included Hou Sheng-chung (6th minute), Tsai Hui-kai (8th minute), Lin Chien-kuang (23rd minute) and Lin Chia-sheng (24th minute). Sri Lanka benefited from an error executed by Cheng Yung-jen, who scored in the 20th minute a goal for his opponents. (ivy)