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South Korea sink India to set up Iran showdown

South Korea marched into the Asian Cup quarter-finals with a 4-1 defeat of an obdurate India in their final Group C game at a sodden Al Gharafa Stadium on Tuesday.

By (AFP)

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Published: Tue 18 Jan 2011, 9:23 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 7:12 PM

Beneath pouring rain, the Koreans established a quick-fire 2-0 lead through Ji Dong-Won and Koo Ja-Cheol before striker Sunil Chhetri brought India back into the game from the penalty spot.

Ji swiftly restored the Taeguk Warriors’ two-goal advantage but minnows India’s stout defending meant the Koreans had to wait until the 81^st minute for Son Heung-Min to net their fourth goal.

The result means South Korea finish second in Group C behind Australia on goal difference, after the Socceroos beat Bahrain 1-0, and will contest a semi-final spot with hitherto unbeaten Group D winners Iran.

With India having lost 4-0 to Australia and 5-2 to Bahrain in their previous two games, pre-match speculation had focused on how many goals South Korea might score and they took less than six minutes to break the deadlock.

Bolton Wanderers winger Lee Chung-Yong spiked a cross into the box from the right that goalkeeper Subrata Paul could only punch into the air and Ji climbed to head home his first goal of the tournament.

Three minutes later it was 2-0, Ji nodding the ball down into Koo’s path and, with the Indian defence static, the Jeju United midfielder deftly rounded Paul before sliding the ball into the empty net.

India’s fans may have feared the worst but in the 11^th minute they were handed an unlikely lifeline when Kwak Tae-Hwi was penalised for clambering over Chhetri as they challenged for a high ball inside the Korean box.

Chhetri rolled the spot-kick into the bottom-right corner to the sound of jubilant screams from the vocal gathering of Indian fans inside the arena.

Korea promptly resumed their assault of the Indian goal, however, with Paul saving from Koo’s header and Kwak seeing an attempt cleared off the line by Surkumar Singh.

Koo was the architect of Korea’s third goal, rolling a clever pass between two defenders for Ji, who drew the goalkeeper from his line before lifting the ball over him and into the net.

Ji then saw three efforts blocked on the goal-line in rapid succession after Paul spilled the ball at a corner.

Lee Chung-Yong, Ji and Kwak all worked Paul prior to half-time and the Bolton man also side-footed wide from a good position as the one-way traffic continued in the second period.

Substitute Son struck the post from close-range, while Kwak was again denied by a defender on the line and Ji lofted the ball over the bar after Paul had vacated his goal.

Having frustrated Korea’s attempts to extend their lead, India were further cheered by the appearance of talisman Bhaichung Bhutia as a substitute after he missed their first two games through injury.

Son gave the scoreline fitting gloss nine minutes from time when he collected a pass on the edge of the box before rifling in off the left-hand post.

Ji then rattled the crossbar, before Korea goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong produced a double save from Chhetri to deny India a late consolation.