Korea defeats Ivory Coast in World Cup warm-up

Baseball

Published: 04 Mar. 2010, 07:49

Korea defeats Ivory Coast in World Cup warm-up

Korea defeated African powerhouse Ivory Coast 2-0 in a tune-up match ahead of the World Cup in London earlier today on strong set-piece plays and reliable defense.
Matched up against a better skilled and speedier Ivory Coast side, Korea took full advantage when play was stopped. Veteran forward Lee Dong-gook and substitute defender Kwak Tae-hwi both scored off free kicks.

The opening goal came only three minutes into the match as Ivory Coast defender Abdoulaye Meite's mistimed clearance ended up in Lee's vicinity. The veteran forward did not hesitate and and turned it into a volley shot.

The two sides traded several quality chances but Korean midfielders and defenders did a solid job of sealing off Ivory Coast's forwards including Didier Drogba of Chelsea, who currently ranks second in the English Premier League with 19 goals in 23 matches. On defense, Lee Jung-woo chipped in on while Cha Du-ri used his speed to cover a lot of ground and also advanced into the opposing zone on several overlapping plays.

Things looked destined to end 1-0 until Kwak, who was substituted into the match in the 61st minute for the injured Lee Jung-soo, sealed the game with a header off Kim Jae-sung's free kick in extra time.

Manager Huh Jung-moo's side was at full strength with a number of overseas-based players for the first time since the 1-0 loss to Serbia last November. Lee Dong-guk and Lee Keun-ho played up top, with Park Ji-sung, Lee Chung-yong, Kim Jung-woo and Ki Sung-yeung playing the midfield positions.

The defense featured Lee Young-pyo, Cho Yong-hyung, Lee Jung-soo and Cha Du-ri.

By Jason Kim [jason@joongang.co.kr]

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이동국·곽태휘 동반 축포…한국, 코트디부아르에 2-0 승리

축구 종가 잉글랜드에서 '사자왕' 이동국(전북)이 포효했다. 또한 '골넣는 수비수' 곽태휘(전남)도 멋진 헤딩슛으로 진가를 유감없이 발휘했다.

두 선수의 득점포에 '아프리카 최강'으로 꼽히는 코트디부아르는 맥없이 무너졌다. 특히 가상의 나이지리아를 상대로 의미있는 승리를 거둔 태극전사들은 월드컵 본선에서 한층 자신감을 갖게 됐다.

허정무팀이 4일 새벽(한국시간) 영국 런던 로프터스 로드 스타디움에서 열린 코트디부아르와의 평가전에서 2-0으로 이겼다.

이동국은 화끈한 득점포로 깊은 인상을 남겼다. 경기 시작 4분만에 나온 벼락같은 슈팅이었다. 기성용의 오른쪽 프리킥을 메이테가 백헤딩으로 걷어냈고, 볼은 페널티지역 왼쪽에 자리잡고 있던 이동국에게 향했다. 이동국은 지체없이 장기인 오른발 발리 슈팅으로 골망을 갈랐다.

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