South Koreans beat Indonesia with elegance
South Koreans beat Indonesia with elegance
JAKARTA (JP): A record 100,000 fans giving their relentless support to a highly spirited Indonesian team was not enough to stop South Korea's winning run in the Olympic Games qualifying round at the Senayan stadium yesterday.
Captain Choi Yong-su struck twice to lift South Korea to a 2-1 away win, boosting his team's chances of making an appearance at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. With two Group C games remaining on home soil, South Korea, which previously routed Hong Kong 5-0, is almost certain to march into the second round.
Indonesia's teenagers did everything well yesterday, creating as many goal scoring chances as possible only to find South Korean marksmen defending solidly. Indonesia was without injured midfielder Ismayana.
Indriyanto capped Indonesia's late comeback after being down 0-2 with a well-aimed 64th chip to the delight of his screaming, drum-beating home crowd. Standing unmarked in the penalty box, he drove Bima Sakti's cannon ball off substitute goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae's bar.
Lee stood under the goalpost midway to the second half after Seo Dong-myung was forced out with a foot injury.
Kurniawan Yulianto inspired the Indonesian squad to force the South Koreans, who played to a relentlessly jeering crowd, into a thriller during the last 20 minutes. Asep Dayat was an inch away from equalizing the score when he blasted a powerful shot 20 meters outside the box. It hit the right bar before South Korean defenders made a clearance.
Choi was the real threat to Indonesia's box area throughout the 90 minutes, but still missed numerous goal scoring chances in the first half. Aples Tecuari's consistent marking also denied the South Korean captain a more brilliant showing.
Choi scored the opening goal in the 41st minute after the Indonesian quartet of defenders, Eko Pudjianto, Aples, Anang Maruf and Bima let Cho Jong-hwa intercept their wall pass. Fast running Choi controlled a long pass from Cho, before slamming the ball past goalie Kurnia Sandy from close range.
The Indonesian squad bounced back after the break but the South Korea's captain silenced the home crowd in the 50th minute, following a scrimmage in Kurnia's box. The disappointed home fans began to burn their banners, turning the match into an even tenser battle.
Referee Subramaniam Selearajen showed three yellow cards for South Korea's Choi and Woo Yung-song and Indonesian defender Eko.
"We are very sorry to lose. Both of us have the same level but the South Koreans are more experienced," Indonesian coach Romano Matte said after the match. Indonesia hosts Hong Kong tomorrow at the same place, hoping for consolation.
Asia's 24 teams are vying for three Olympic places. They play round-robin matches in eight groups, with all winners advancing to the second round.
The best eight teams will play the other round-robin games in two groups, with the top teams eligible for the Olympics. The other ticket will go to the best runner-up.
Teams
Indonesia: Kurnia Sandy, Eko Purjianto, Anang Ma'ruf, Bima Sakti Tukiman (C), Frido Yuwanto, Supriyanto Paimin, Indriyanto/Nurul Huda, Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, Asep Dayat/Alexander Pulalo, Aples Gideon, Chrislow Yarangga
South Korea: Seo Dong-myung/Lee Woon-jae, Park Choon-kyoon, Lee Ki-hyung, Yoon Jong-hwan, Woo Sung-yong, Choi Yong-su (C), Kim Hyun-su, Cho Hyun-doo, Cho Jong-hwa, Choi Yoon-yeol, Kim Dae-eui
Standings South Korea 2 2 0 0 7-1 6 Indonesia 1 1 0 0 1-2 0 Hong Kong 1 1 0 0 0-5 0