Co-host tops Spain in shootout after playing 120 scoreless minutes
06/22/2002
GWANGJU, South Korea – After the South Korean captain slammed the final
penalty kick into the right corner of the net, he sprinted to the
sideline, jumped and punched the air with his fist.
The 42,000 screaming fans in red jumped with him.
The co-host of the first World Cup in Asia had done it again. The South
Koreans upset Spain 5-3 in a penalty-kick shootout Saturday after a 0-0
tie.
Next up are the Germans in the semifinals, and they know they better
watch out for one of the biggest surprises of an upset-filled tournament.
"As we go on, I think we can beat any team ... including Germany,"
defender Hong Myung-bo said. "I can't tell the difference between a
dream or reality."
Hong scored the game-winner after goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae saved a
penalty shot by Joaquin Sanchez.
South Korea, which hadn't won a game in five previous trips to the World
Cup, is the first Asian team ever to reach the semifinals. They'll play
Tuesday in Seoul against the three-time champions, who beat the United
States 1-0 on Friday.
South Korea coach Guus Hiddink said his team's unprecedented achievement
was "so outrageous, it's almost without limits." The victory followed a
2-1, come-from-behind upset of Italy in overtime in the second round.
The team also beat Portugal and Poland, and tied the Americans.
"I cannot describe how I am feeling. I am so happy for the boys. I think
now it is a complete dream," Hiddink said.
It was a bitter loss for Spain, which was in its 11th World Cup. The
team had several excellent scoring opportunities late in the game,
hitting the post on one shot and having a goal disallowed on a
questionable call by the linesman, who ruled the ball had crossed the
end line.
Spain coach Jose Camacho became the latest critic of the tournament's
referees. Italy also had complained.
"We expected the officiating to be better. This was a quarterfinal match
after all," Camacho said.
Spain had been considered one of the tournament favorites after winning
its first four games. But South Korea had other ideas, playing solid
defense and scoring on all five of its penalty kicks.
"Is it true that we are advancing to the semifinals? It's unbelievable,"
defender Choi Jin-cheul said.
When Sanchez approached the ball to take his penalty shot, he hesitated
for a moment, then tried to place it in the right side of the goal. Lee
guessed correctly, diving to his left to make the save.
"I missed the first three penalty shots, so I thought to myself, 'Do not
move, rather wait for the ball,"' Lee said. "Finally, Joaquin kicked the
ball almost straight to me."
Sanchez said he was nervous but confident. "I screwed up," he added. "It
was my bad luck and there's nothing more to say."
Down two goals, Spain didn't take its last penalty kick.
After Hong sealed the victory with his shot past goalkeeper Iker
Casillas, the 42,000 red-clad fans erupted in joy for the home team,
screaming, singing and jumping up and down. South Korean President Kim
Dae-jung was in the crowd, too.
Outside the stadium, the entire nation joined in the celebration,
pouring into the streets to cheer for yet another upset. They'll be
ready to roar for another one Tuesday.
"The fans will carry them. They are like bees swarming all over you,"
German striker Miroslav Klose said. "We must not underestimate them.
They've shown they can play soccer, they have a great team spirit."
For a while, it looked as if the few Spanish supporters would be the
ones celebrating Saturday.
In the 10th minute of overtime, Fernando Morientes almost scored the
game-winner when his right-footed drive sailed past Lee and hit the left
post.
Morientes, starting as the lone striker for Spain in the absence of
injured teammate Raul Gonzalez, had scored three goals in four previous
games but couldn't get the one his country desperately needed.
"We're out, but we worked hard. They were just a little bit luckier than
we were," Camacho said.
The Spaniards had goals disallowed in each half of regulation time on
offside calls and a third in overtime. Morientes looked as if he had
scored from close-range off a pass from Sanchez, but Sanchez was ruled
to have dribbled out along the end line. Replays showed the ball never
fully crossed the line.
Park Ji-sung had South Korea's first real shot on goal in the 67th
minute, lashing a powerful right-footed shot that Casillas deflected
around his right post with a diving punch.
Spain then started to retake control. Fernando Hierro's freekick in the
83rd minute was punched clear by Lee and Ruben Bajara popped a header
onto the roof of the net a minute later.
When Hiddink took over the South Korean team 18 months ago, it was
struggling. Now it is one victory from the World Cup final.
Hiddink guided his native Netherlands to the semifinals four years ago
in France and he is now the only coach to take two nations to the semis.
"We would like to have a little glass of champagne now and prepare for
the next game," he said. "What comes tomorrow is tomorrow."
Spain's Fernando Morientes tries a scissor kick as South Korea's
goalie Lee Woon Jae (right) defends.
(AP)