S.Korea 3-1 Germany: Klinsmann woe
(soccernet.com)
Updated: 2004-12-20 09:11

Germany's unbeaten record under Juergen Klinsmann came to an abrupt halt on Sunday when they were beaten 3-1 by South Korea in a re-run of their 2002 World Cup semi-final.

German defender Patrick Owomoyela (L) vies against Korean Do Namkung at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium, during their friendly football match. Korea won 3-1. [AFP]

Kim Dong-jin, Lee Dong-gook and Cho Jae-jin were on target to give South Korea a measure of revenge for their 1-0 defeat by the Germans at the World Cup two and a half years ago.

To compound Germany's frustration, captain Michael Ballack, who scored the winner in that match, missed a late penalty that would have made it 2-2 in Pusan.

'We're obviously disappointed,' said Klinsmann. 'We were positive and tried to dictate but they took us out of our rhythm and took their chances. It's a bit of a shock.'

Midfielder Kim put South Korea ahead in the 16th minute, firing a left-foot volley past Oliver Kahn from 20 metres.

But Ballack, who scored in Germany's 3-0 victory over Japan on Thursday, equalised for the three-times World Cup winners eight minutes later with a free kick from the edge of the box.

South Korea goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae rescued the home side moments later, making a sharp stop to deny striker Miroslav Klose after slack defending.

Ballack, who missed Germany's 2-0 defeat by Brazil in the World Cup final after being booked against the Koreans, then had another free kick deflected against the post.

OPPORTUNISTIC VOLLEY

Klose nearly scored with an opportunistic volley that dipped just over in the 66th minute.

Striker Lee Dong-gook struck five minutes later, finding space to loop a superb right-foot volley past Kahn from just inside the penalty area.

German head coach Juergen Klinsmann looks dejected after his team was defeated by Korea at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium. [AFP]

Against a crescendo of booing from the crowd of 48,000, Ballack had a penalty saved by Lee Woon-jae five minutes from time after Park Jae-hong was adjudged to have handled.

Substitute Cho scored from close range two minutes later following good work from German-based striker Cha Du-ri, whose pace had bothered the visitors all game.

'You can't make excuses,' shrugged Ballack. 'Travelling and being stuck in hotels is tough but on the pitch we lost fair and square.'

South Korea coach Jo Bonfrere praised his inexperienced side after the match.

'We were missing a lot of senior players but we still beat a world-class side,' said the Dutchman. 'I think we deserved to win after battling so hard.'

Germany play Thailand in Bangkok on Tuesday in the last game of their three-match tour of Asia.

The games are a reward for the backing Asian countries gave Germany in their successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup.

Before Sunday, Germany had won four games and drawn one under Klinsmann since he took over from Rudi Voeller in July.

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