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Belgium goes home after 1-1 draw
South Korea scores in 71st minute for first goal in finals
Posted: Wednesday September 16, 1998 04:12 PM
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Luc Nillis (10) had Belgium's only goal of the game David Cannon/Allsport |
PARIS (CNN/SI) -- Yoo Sang-chul found a way to knock in a free kick
from Ha Seok-ju in the 71st minute, giving South Korea
an equalizing goal with Belgium in a
draw that ended up having zero impact on the group standings for either.
The result had zero effect on either side's chances for advancement
due to Mexico's 2-2
draw with the Netherlands
in St. Etienne. Belgium needed a victory over South Korea, which already
had been eliminated, and for the Dutch to beat Mexico to advance into the
second round. But the Dutch, who only needed a draw to advance from Group
E, allowed a late comeback by the Mexicans to ensure both teams moved on.
Belgium appeared to be in good shape early, taking a lead shortly
after kickoff, while the Dutch led Mexico 2-0 in the second half. A
header from Gordan Vidovic was pushed off the line in the seventh minute by
a South Korean defender, but Luc Nilis surged into the area to volley in
the much-needed opener past diving goalkeeper Kim Byung-ji. But
Belgium's hopes were deflated with 19 minutes remaining, when Ha lofted a
free kick for from the left and Yoo stretched to touch the ball with his
right foot, beating several diving Belgian defenders on the far side of the
goal box. It was Belgium's third draw in the irst round. "You have
to be able to win at least one game to advance and we could not," said
Belgian captain Franky Van der Elst. "After a good start we fell
back too quickly," said Van der Elst, who will retire from international
soccer after playing in four World Cups. Although already eliminated
from the tournament, the South Koreans appeared determined to win their
first match in five World Cup appearances -- their last opportunity before
co-hosting the next World Cup with Japan in 2002.
South Korean coach Kim Pyun-Soek -- promoted after Cha Bum-kin was
fired following the team's dismal 5-0 loss to the Netherlands -- made few
changes to Cha's starting lineup against the Dutch. His players
demonstrated tight defending and an ability to shoot from distance, but
also bouts of tactical naivete that the experienced Belgians -- fielding a
team whose average age was over 30 -- were quick to take advantage of.
"We wanted to give our fans a boost after two demoralizing losses," said
coach Kim Pyung-seok. In the 22nd minute, forward Seo Jung-won ran
down a long pass, but although completely unmarked, fumbled the shot from
some 12 meters, the ball bouncing off his shin and shooting past the post.
In the 51st minute, Nilis hit the crossbar from six meters after
chesting a cross in the box and swivelling around defenders Ha and Lee
Sang-hun. After the equalizer, the two teams had at least
half-a-dozen opportunities to take the lead, but the score remained
unchanged. Belgium: Filip de Walle; Eric Deflandre, Gordan
Vidovic, Lorenzo Staelens, Vital Borkelmans; Enzo Scifo (Franky Van der
Elst, 65th minute), Philippe Clement (Lokonda Mpenza, 74th minute), Marc
Wilmots, Nico Van Krckhoven; Luis Oliveira (Mbo Mpenza, 46th minute), Luc
Nilis. South Korea: Kim Byung-ji; Kim Tae-young, Hong
Myung-bo, Lee Min-sung, Lee Sang-hun; Choi Sung-yong (Lee Lim-saeng, 46th
minute), Kim Do-keun (Ko Jong-suu, 46th minute), Yoo Sang-chul; Seo
Jung-won, Choi Yong-soo, Ha Seok-ju (Jan Hyung-seok, 66th minute).
Referee: Rezende de Freitas, Brazil.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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