By Kim Hyun-cheol
Staff reporter
With 12 days to go before the World Cup kick-off, the South Korean football team had a last-ditch alarm with a 1-0 loss to Belarus in Sunday’s friendly match in Kufstein, Austria.
Sergey Kisliak scored in the second half, which turned out to be the winner that snatched the no-loss streak of Huh Jung-moo’s squad, which started since a 3-0 loss to China at the East Asian Championship in February, at four games.
The match was supposed to be a simulation for South Korea’s first group stage match against Greece. However, it was an uneventful and low-key encounter overall.
After a static first half, Kisliak took advantage of less organized defense of the Taeguk Warriors, slotting a drive off the cross from the left side, past a helpless Lee Woon-Jae into the net eight minutes into the second half.
Korean manager Huh now may feel double troubled after the game, as defender Kwak Tae-hwi was sent out in the first half with a knee injury. The Kyoto Sanga player severely injured the same part in October 2008, when he was in the K-League side Jeonnam Dragons.
“This match reminded us that we still have a lot to do before the World Cup,” Huh said after the game. “I can’t say it was a very satisfactory result.”
Korean team captain Park Ji-sung said the on-pitch communications among the players were not smooth, but the team still will stay positive.
“It was our first match during our highland training, so we might have not been fully adjusted to the circumstances yet,” the Manchester United star said. “But I’m sure we have much more to show in South Africa. With more preparation, we will not have much problem against Greece.”
South Korea plays Spain in Innsbruck, Austria, on June 3, for the last friendly before taking on Greece match on June 11.
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