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.