Asian World Cup Qualifiers - Uzbekistan v South Korea; Kuwait v South Korea

John Duerden reports

South Korea clinched a spot in the 2006 World Cup after a draw and a win in Uzbekistan and Kuwait respectively with two performances that couldn't have been more different.

The ‘Taeguk Warriors' arrived in Tashkent last week as Group A's second-placed team but with some work to do before claiming one of two automatic qualification spots that come with finishing in the top two places.

Four points would probably be enough in the two away games to ensure that nothing would be needed when the Saudis came to Seoul in August.

The game in the Uzbeki capital was bad. Strangely enough, the expected weak link, an inexperienced defence, consisting of Yoo Kyeong-ryeol, Park Dong-hyeok and debutant Kim Han-yoon from SK Bucheon, performed solidly despite having only 24 caps between them.

It was the midfield and attack that just couldn't get it together. "They didn't link together well," said coach Jo Bonfrere with more than a hint of understatement.

Lee Young-pyo's crosses didn't have the same accuracy that they do in the Netherlands for PSV, Ahn Jung-hwan, returning to the team after a long injury lay-off didn't seem to know what he was supposed to be doing.

The biggest story of the day was the appearance of Park Chu-young, who was given his debut despite the fact that the teenager has only played three games in the K-League for FC Seoul. In truth, the Young Asian Player of the Year didn't have a good game, but being stuck on the wing may have something to do with that.

Bottom-placed Uzbekistan showed a surprising lack of attacking ambition despite needing a win to get a disappointing campaign off the ground. Perhaps recently reinstated coach, Ravshan Haydarov was thinking about Jurgen Gede, his predecessor who lost his job after defeat in Seoul on March 30.

After half-time, the hosts began to attack a little more and took the lead on the 63rd minute through Maksim Shatskikh. The Dinamo Kiev striker showed why he had been on the shortlist of the 2003 Asian Player of the year award as he coolly lobbed the advancing Lee Woon-jae.

Just prior to the goal, Park Chu-young had put the ball into the Uzbeki net only for the goal to be disallowed as Ahn Jung-hwan strayed offside. That was the Yokohama striker's last contribution to the game as he was swiftly replaced by Lee Dong-guk.

After much pressure, Park Chu-young blasted the ball home in the last minute to give his team a share of the points. The Uzbeki defenders collapsed onto the turf, aware that they had let two vital points slip from their grasp as well as any realistic chances of automatic qualification.

The Korean press was not impressed by the display in Tashkent with Bonfrere, never popular with, or friendly to reporters, taking much of the flak.

If the coach was going to fulfil his promise when he left Seoul of coming back with tickets for the World Cup, he needed a point in Kuwait City but only a victory would enable the team to collect the four points that the Dutchman said they would.

Kuwait had changed coaches only three days before with Mohammed Ibrahim taking over from Slobodan Pavkovic. Similarly to the Uzbekistan situation, Ibrahim was returning to take over the team just a few months after leaving and had little time to re-energise a Kuwaiti team that had crashed to a 3-0 defeat in Riyadh five days before and needed to beat South Korea to keep their hopes alive of a top two finish.

Bonfrere changed things around in attack with Park Chu-young moving into a more central role alongside Lee Dong-guk and the players responded with their best performance since the Dutchman took over a year ago.

After only 19 minutes. Park Chu-young intensified the media frenzy surrounding himself back home with a opportunistic close range strike after good work from Kim Dong-jin. The two FC Seoul colleagues linked up well again eight minutes later, Kim's pass found Park in space until he was bundled over by a Kuwaiti defender just inside the penalty area.

Lee Dong-guk coolly slotted home from the spot to leave his team-mates within touching distance of Germany and the game stopped for ten minutes as objects were thrown onto the pitch.

The fans probably realised that all hopes of winning the game and finishing second were almost gone and they disappeared completely in the 55th minute. Chung Kyung-ho's first kick of the ball after coming on as a substitute was to put the ball beyond ‘keeper Shebab Kankone.

The best was saved for last as Park Ji-sung, reportedly on his way to Manchester United, lobbed the ball over a defender and then dummied the goalkeeper from close range, sending him the wrong way.

The result made South Korea the third team to qualify for Germany, closely following Japan and Iran. It also marks an impressive sixth consecutitve appearance in the competition.

The team has a year in which to prepare for the World Cup and the tougher opposition that will lie in wait in Europe. If the players reproduce Wednesday's form however, a good time could be had by all but a repeat of Tashkent's display will please no one except the opposition.

Park Chu-young

The story continues. "The Age of Park" is upon us said the SportsSeoul newspaper. It certainly is in South Korea where the youngster is photographed everywhere he goes and is probably the most famous person in Korea at the moment.

Pictures of him in his now familiar goal celebration ‘praying' pose can be seen in every tabloid and on all news programs.

Perhaps fortunately for the 19 year-old he can escape some of the focus as he is currently in the Netherlands to represent his country at the FIFA World Youth Championships.

The Korean youths find themselves in a tough group with Switzerland, who they face on June 12th, Brazil and Nigeria.

Park Ji-sung

It looks like PSV's talented midfielder could be on his way to Manchester United and the Premier League if Korean press reports are true. It will be tough for Park to say goodbye to Guus Hiddink – "he's been like a father to Ji-sung," said his mother.

Still, with shining performances at home and abroad it was only a matter of time before the 24-year-old left for bigger ponds.

They don't come much bigger than Manchester United, where the versatile midfielder could help boost an aging midfield containing Keane, Scholes and Giggs. He certainly has the energy to do so, with a phenomenal engine and no little skill.

John Duerden

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