South Korea moves into Asian Cup quarters

South Korea moves into Asian Cup quarters

BEIRUT (AFP): A hat trick from 'Lion King' Lee Dong-gook sent South Korea into the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup here Thursday as China and Kuwait drew to top Group B.

Lee's trio of goals handed South Korea a 3-0 victory over Indonesia, which made a limp exit from the tournament at Beirut's Sports City stadium.

With China and Kuwait drawing to take the top two places in the group with five points apiece, Korea's win saw it qualify as one of the two best third-place finishers with four points.

It will now play Iran in a mouthwatering quarterfinal duel in Tripoli next Monday. China tops the group from Kuwait on goal difference, but its opponent will only be known when Group C completed the first round later on Friday.

"Our first objective was to reach the second round and we have done that," said relieved South Korean coach Huh Jung-moo.

"It was disappointing that we didn't score with more of our chances but we are very happy to have reached the quarterfinals," said Huh, who has been the target of fierce criticism in Korea after his side's below-par showings here.

"In football you never know what is going to happen," he said when asked about the quarterfinal against the powerful Iranians. "We are ready for them ... we'll be prepared."

Lee pounced in the 30th, 76th and 90th minutes with a text- book display of markmanship.

Korea had dominated play in the first-half but was often let down by poor distribution and wayward finishing.

The first opportunity of note fell to Lee, but the 21-year-old striker's free header from a Noh Jung-yoon cross flew over the bar.

Fifteen minutes before half-time the Koreans got the goal that their territorial dominance deserved.

Park Ji-sung crossed from the left flank and Lee arrived in the box to flick a deftly angled shot into the far corner from the edge of the six-yard area.

Indonesia had to wait until the 51st minute for its first shot on goal, midfielder Uston Nawawi rifling in a free kick from just outside the area which was well-saved by Lee Won-jae.

Korea continued to dominate in the second-half, peppering the Indonesian goal with a succession of chances.

It finally made sure of victory 14 minutes from time when Lee swept in a low shot from the edge of the area after a neat cutback from Seol. Lee completed his hat trick with a header on the stroke of full-time.

In Tripoli Kuwait dominated a tense match but was let down in front of goal against an understrength China.

China's Serb coach Bora Milutinovic had decided to leave out defensive pillar Fan Zhyi and playmaker Lie Tie because both risked a second yellow card which would have ruled them out of the quarterfinals.

Both coaches were quick to rebut any suggestions they had been happy for their teams to play out a draw and settle for the first two qualification spots in the group -- thus avoiding Iran in the last eight.

"People should know me better. I prefer to win than have friends -- win first and drink with them afterwards," Milutinovic said.

Kuwait's Czech coach Dusan Uhrin echoed his counterpart's words. "We would have won but we have a serious problem scoring. It's becoming a serious psychological problem for us," he said.