Saturday, June 15, 2002
U.S. team joins Korea, Japan, Belgium in second round
By PHIL BROWN
Associated Press Writer
YOKOHAMA, Japan — South Korea ended nearly a half-century of frustration at the World Cup, finally reaching the second round. It was kind enough to help the United States advance, too.
In the first World Cup in Asia, the other co-host, Japan, also advanced unbeaten, helping preserve the record of no host nation ever going out in the first round.
By knocking Portugal out of contention with a 1-0 victory Friday, the Koreans lifted the Americans into the round of 16 with them, despite a 3-1 U.S. loss to Poland. The Poles scored twice in the first five minutes.
“We're lucky,” captain Claudio Reyna said. “I think we deserve to go through, but we owe Korea a little thanks.”
How about loads of thanks?
“We owe a lot to Korea today,” said U.S. goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who saved a penalty kick for the second straight game.
The Americans play Mexico on Monday.
“Any opponent who makes it to the second round will be tough. We have to concentrate to win the game,” Mexican midfielder Gerardo Torrado said. “The U.S. is a team with a good defense, which always gives us trouble.”
South Korea plays Italy on Tuesday.
Hundreds of thousands of red-clad soccer fans dancing, singing and shouting “We won! We won!” paraded through downtown Seoul after the game.
Thousands of police were dispatched to guard against possible violence. But no problems were reported.
After losing all three games in its World Cup debut in 1998, Japan set off local rejoicing with a 2-0 victory over Tunisia.
Crowds shouting “Banzai!” poured into downtown Tokyo, spraying beer, blowing whistles and exchanging high-fives. People jumped into rivers in celebration, despite warning signs.
In Osaka, police arrested six Japanese men — two naked river jumpers for obscenity and four others on suspicion of obstructing police on streets jammed with excited soccer fans.
“This is wonderful. It's so moving it brings tears to your eyes. How strange, but I guess that's what joy is,” Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said.
South Korea's despair dated back farther. In World Cups in 1954, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998, it went 14 games without a victory.
That ended quickly this time. The Koreans beat Poland 2-0, tied the United States 1-1 and then eliminated the Portuguese, who had opened with a 3-2 loss to the Americans. Portugal played three-quarters of the match one man short and was down to nine for the last 25 minutes after red cards.
“I don't want to stick on one player, I think the team achievement was tremendous,” said coach Guus Hiddink, a Dutchman who has revitalized the South Korean program. “I came here and made my plan. I knew I got lot of opposition, because I did it in the way I planned it. Few inside understood.”
Belgium struggled back from the brink of elimination with two late goals for a 3-2 victory over Russia for its place in the second round.
Russian coach Oleg Romantsev and his two assistants resigned immediately after the game, according to Russian news reports.
Japan plays Turkey in the next round, which began Saturday with Denmark vs. England and Germany vs. Paraguay.
Spain meets Ireland and Sweden plays surprising Senegal on Sunday.
Belgium gets Brazil in the next round.
The South Korean victory came hours after a tragic gesture by one fan.
Saying he wanted to help his nation's team by becoming a ghost 12th player, the 39-year-old man set himself on fire and was in critical condition, police said.
South Korea didn't score until the 70th minute, when Park Ji-sung took a cross, chested the ball down, flicked it around a defender and drove a shot through Portuguese goalkeeper Vitor Baia's legs.
“It was a great chance when it came, and I felt I could score,” Park said. “We have played strong teams, and we played a good game to get to the last 16.”
Portugal almost tied it in the last minute when Sergio Conceicao sent a volley onto the goalpost. If it went in, Portugal would have gone into the second round and knocked out the Americans.
“We are very, very disappointed,” Portugal coach Antonio Oliveira said. “This is not the result we expected when we started World Cup.
Joao Pinto was ejected in the 27th minute, and Beto in the 65th for Portugal.
Against the Americans, Poland's Emmanuel Olisadebe scored in the third minute, Pawel Kryszalowicz followed in the fifth and Marcin Zewlakow made it 3-0 in the 66th.
Landon Donovan scored for the Americans in the 83rd, but the biggest cheers came from the crowd after they learned that Park scored in the Portugal-South Korea match.
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U.S. team joins Korea, Japan, Belgium in second round
