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