Korea vs. Togo
This is another of those crap matches that sometimes sneak into the schedule. Togo is clearly the weakest of the African qualifiers and I've never given Korea much away from their fanatical fan base in Seoul. Again, though, you can think of this as a tasty appetizer - an "amuse" perhaps - before the main events today - France and then the boys from Brasil. Can't wait! And who knows, this may turn out to be a thriller like the Aussie - Japan game yesterday morning. Join me for the festivities today.
posted by gatorbob @ 8:50 AM
27 Comments:
The atmosphere in the stadium today looks amazing on the Univision coverage - as usual ESPN is still on the inane Mike and Mike in the Morning show - with Korean fans holding up a huge flag on the sidelines and the Togolese fans going barmy. Would love to be there.
Here are the sides today:
TOGO
16. Kossi Agassa
2. Dare Nibombe
5. Massamasso Tchangai
19. Ludovic Assemoassa
3. Jean-Paul Abalo
7. Moustapha Salifou
10. Mamam Cherif-Toure
15. Alaixys Romao
18. Junior Senaya
17. Kader Mohamed
4. Emmanuel Adebayor
SOUTH KOREA
1. Woon-Jae Lee
2. Young-Chul Kim
4. Jin-Chul Choi
6. Jin-Kyu Kim
12. Young-Pyo Lee
22. Chong-Gug Song
7. Ji-Sung Park
13. Eul-Yong Lee
17. Ho Lee
14. Chun-Soo Lee
19. Jae-Jin Cho
As usual with the African sides, there is Arsenal interest with Emmanuel Adebayor up front. So are you a Togo fan, Gooner?
First look at the Togo coach Otto Pfister, who at one point this week had resigned out of protest around a wage issue but is back on the bench today.
Baddiel and Skinner quipped that without Pfister, the coaches with a "snigger factor" to their names had been reduced to Argentina's Jose Pekerman.
Our favorite Premiership referee Graham Poll officiating today. Referees have come in for a critical pounding in this WC so far, but I reckon they've done a decent job keeping the cards to a minimum and being unfussy. Will Mr. Poll continue that trend?
No real chances in the first quarter of an hour, although the Togo keeper did just drop a ball after a free kick. Lots of running from both sides, but to little effect so far.
First booking to Togo for Alexis Romao who's engaged in several industrial challenges on Park. First decent free kick opportunity for Korea.
Decent effort but wide.
Korea's coach Dick Advocaat is one of six Dutch coaches in the tournament, includign the likes of Marco van Basten, Leo Beenhakker and Guus Hiddink. But there are no English coaches - go figure?
Big Sam Allardyce, where are you?
GOAL: 1-0 Togo! Mohammad Kader collects a long ball off the knee and rifles a low shot into the left corner of the net.
This should liven up the proceedings.
So much for my prediction of Korea going through second in this group. That goal really opens up the group. It has to be said that that goal came right out of the blue. There hadn't even been a corner up until that point, let alone a good strike on goal. It seems to have stimulated the Koreans to step up a gear; they've just come close.
Yellow card for Korea's Chong. And a decent looking free kick opportunity for Togo....
OOOH, just tipped over after a great chip by Sanai.
Half-time: 1-0 Togo; this is a disaster in the making for Korea, who - with France and Switzerland to come - must assume that they'll be out if they lose this one.
The Sparrow Hawks are just outmuscling the slight Koreans up until this point. They just seem to want it more.
Second half starting; Korea have brought on Sun Joon Ahn, the bloke who broke Italian hearts in 2002. I can't believe this guy still can't get a game for the side after his heroics in that WC. Korea reverting to a traditional 4-4-2 instead of packing the midfield as they did in the first half. We'll see if it makes a difference.
Kader is on fire. Another great run down the left side and made space for a raking shot. I can't believe the Koreans are giving him so much space. They seem intent on marking Adebayor - the established star of the side - but they're leaving the rest of the front line with acres.
Another booking for Korea; the bottle blond Chun Soo Lee for a tug on the back of a Togo player's shirt. The Koreans really are having a 'mare today. I'm losing big points in the Predictions game.
RED Card! Ahn is denied a goal scoring opportunity by Abalo. It looked like a straight red. I don't remember his being booked before, although Poll seemed to pull the yellow out after the red. Perplexing.
And Chun Soo Lee scores from the free kick - 1-1 - the game has been completely altered by that incident.
The Koreans are really on the charge with their heads up after the goal; Ahn has made a big difference. Why oh why didn't Advocaat pick him from the start.
Poll has to make another big decision with a big call for a penalty - he waves it off and I think he's right for once.
Korea scent blood with Togo down to ten men and the momentum switched. Will Togo try to hold out or keep pushing forward. This is where tournament experience plays a big role.
On the replay of the goal, the keeper was all at sea. Maybe he can blame on the light ball, but he seemed to move out of position and then desperately try to claw his way back toward the ball. The shot was actually straight down the middle and should easily have been saved by a decent keeper.
Otto Pfister doesn't look happy on the bench. He looks as if he'd rather be eating a bit of schnitzel right now. Now one of his defenders - Assemoassa - is being stretchered off after a seemingly innocuous incident. It's all going wrong for the Sparrow Hawks now after such a promising start.
OOOH, what a chance for Togo. After a quick break and cross into the box, Sallifou has a decent shooting opportunity and blasts it over the bar. That could have finished off the game. This one still could go either way. Another morning match that has produced much more entertaining footie that it had promised.
You have to admire the pluck of Togo now, down to ten men but still plugging away. Adebayor has been magnificent, playing a real leading role, pulling a lot of Koreans out of position with his endless running and allowing his comrades to shine. I'd love to see them pull this out, but perhaps they'll be happy with a draw.
All to play for with twenty five minutes left.
Adebayor nearly latches on to a long ball - just out of his reach.
The Koreans seem to have backed off and are relying on long range efforts. They seem happy with the draw now. I think they'll rue this result when they face France.
GOAL: 2-1; Ahn again! The man just can't be stopped in the World Cup. He must really love the big stage. He got a bit of space at the edge of the box and walloped it into the top left corner. Great goal.
Shame about Togo; I really feel for them.
Believe it or not there is still fifteen minutes left. Bloody hell, there have been more twists and turns in this one than in a Hitchcock film.
Still time for Togo to come back. Will they? I'm on the edge of the couch here.
Nice move there by Togo, but Adebayor is unable to latch onto the through ball. They're pushing it, but may leave them exposed at the back.
Full-time: 2-1 Korea. They really pulled that one out of the tire. Shame for Togo. They looked good for a point that would keep them in contention. Now, it's going to be hard work.
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