South Korea progress in World Cup qualifying
South Korea saw off Kuwait with two second-half goals on Wednesday to book their place in the final group round of Asian qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: February 29, 2012 09:41 PM IST
South Korea saw off Kuwait with two second-half goals on Wednesday to book their place in the final group round of Asian qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The Koreans, semi-finalists in the 2002 World Cup, went into the match needing at least a draw to be sure of progressing and strikes from Lee Dong-Gook and Lee Keun-Ho saw them through as Group B winners.
Lebanon join South Korea in the draw for the next round, to be made in Kuala Lumpur on March 9, after finishing second in the group despite suffering a surprise 4-2 defeat away to the United Arab Emirates.
Needing a win to advance, Kuwait started aggressively in Seoul, consistently breaking through with their quick short passing game, and the home side had goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong to thank for their clean sheet at half-time.
Kuwaiti midfielder Waleed Ali launched a shot from the edge of the penalty area in the seventh minute, forcing Jung into a punching save, before a Bader Al-Mutwa drive stung the keeper's palms around the half hour mark.
But it was K-League star Lee Dong-Gook who broke the deadlock in the 65th minute, stroking home his fifth goal in four career games against Kuwait when the visitors failed to clear a loose ball.
Six minutes later Choi Hyo-jin found Lee Keun-Ho in the box after stealing a Kuwaiti clearance and the forward gave his side the two-goal cushion.
If South Korea make it through to Brazil, it will be their eighth consecutive appearance at the World Cup finals and their ninth overall.