 Korean national football team forward Kim Shin-wook, left, shows disappointment after missing a chance to score against Japan at Sapporo Dome, Japan, Wednesday. Korea lost to Japan 3-0. / Yonhap |
By Yoon Chul
South Korea crossed the East Sea without star players Lee Chung-yong of Bolton Wanderers and Ji Dong-won of Sunderland to compete against Japan. But that shouldn’t be an excuse for the lethargic defeat.
Japan pounded Korea 3-0 at Sapporo Dome. Japanese talent Shinji Kagawa of Borussia Dortmund netted twice and another overseas player Keisuke Honda of CSKA Moscow added for the team’s perfect victory.
Since Korea lost to Japan 4-1 in Sept. 28, 1974 in Tokyo it is for the first time for Korea to allow three goals deficit. To make matters worse for the visitors it was also the first defeat in six years between the national teams.
As soon as the starting whistle sounded in the Sapporo Dome the home side threatened visitors for the first five minutes.
After the Taeguk Warriors endured the Japanese attack they got few decisive chances. Lee Keun-ho, who notched eight goals for Gamba Osaka in the J-League, and Kim Jung-woo, who scored the second most in the K-league with 14 for Sangju Sangmu, made powerful headers but all of them were over the crossbar.
Cha Du-ri of Celtic also hit the strong middle-distance shooting which Japanese goal keeper Eiji Kawashima punched clear.
But all of the three were the most decisive moments for Korea for the first 70 minutes.
In 34th minute the blue jersey-wearing home side cheered first.
After Japan deprived the ball in the right corner of Korea’s territory veteran midfielder Yasuhito Endo’s pass penetrated into the box.
Tadanari Lee, who was a former Korean under-19 team member, made a back pass to 22-year-old Kagawa. The Borussia midfielder — the most promising young Asian footballer playing in Europe — rifled to the far post and it beat the outstretched Korean goal keeper Jung Sung-ryong for a 1-0 lead.
In the second half Japan forced the Koreans to step back to their territory and the 16th ranked Japan didn’t need a long time to double the lead.
In 52nd minute Honda hit the net and two minutes later Kagawa beat the Korean goalie, again.
The Ultra Nippon quickly moved to Korea’s territory and they had the advantage in the empty right corner. From there a cross headed into the box and the dashing Kagawa finished for a 3-0 lead.
The visitors finally got back on track a little in the last 20 minutes. They generated few chances but as most offenders tried to hit strongly it often flew into the stand.
Koo Ja-cheol of Wolfsburg had a one-on-one chance in 75th. All Korean fans expected Koo, who scored the most in the Asian Cup in January with five, to score, however he missed it.
The trailers made few more chances but all of them didn’t shake the Japanese’ net.
Korea managed by Cho Kwang-rae will start the final round playing against Lebanon on Sept. 2 in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province for the 2014 World Cup qualifier.
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