Asian Cup 2015: South Korea move into final after 2-0 win over Iraq at soggy ANZ Stadium
SOUTH Korea are in the final of the Asian Cup, and lie in wait for the Socceroos if the home side can navigate a path to ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
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SOUTH Korea are in the final of the Asian Cup, and lie in wait for the Socceroos if the home side can navigate a path to ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
AS IT HAPPENED: SOUTH KOREA V IRAQ
Victory for the Koreans came over Iraq on Monday night at the same venue by 2-0 and a rather wider margin of comfort. Clinical in attack and excellently marshalled in defence, the side in its third consecutive semi-final finally made it to the final for the first time since 1988.
Goals from Lee Jeong-hyeop and Kim Young-gwon in each half affirmed their superiority, with Iraq seemingly left exhausted by the intensity and drama of their win over Iran in the quarter-finals.
If Australia can overcome the UAE on Tuesday night in their own semi-final, they will have to achieve the victory over Korea they failed to do in the group stages to lift the trophy.
After so much heat in the tournament, the rain poured down on the first semi-final, hampering those on both teams eager to move the ball around with speed.
There was quickly a pattern set, as Korea were content to hold the ball and wait for the right moment to attack, while Iraq put their faith in a direct style funnelled through captain Younis Mahmood.
Only two minutes had passed when Ki Sung Yeung crossed deep to the far post, where Han Kyo Won was free but unable to make contact. Ki promptly earned the ire of the Iraqi supporters with a cynical foul on Amjed Kalaf Al-Muntafik that earned a yellow card.
But other challenges went unpunished as the referee sought to make allowances for the slipperiness - and Korea sought to challenge Iraqi keeper Jalal Hassan with long-range shooting of disappointing accuracy.
From Iraq there was little threat - Mahmood led a breakaway in the 19th minute and almost released Ahmed Yaseen Gheni, but from the turnover Korea streaked upfield and Son Heung Min saw his shot tipped over.
A minute later, though, the keeper watched in dismay as Iraq took the lead. It was a simple goal, Kim Yin Su’s dipping freekick from the left wing met forcibly by the head of Lee Jeong-hyeop, though Hassan might have done better to meet the cross.
In the dying seconds of the first half Kwak Taeh-wi misjudged a high ball and gifted it to Alaa Abdulzehra, but his attempted pass across goal to Mahmood sailed over the bar. Such profligacy would haunt them.
Only five minutes of the second half had passed when Korea put in a series of crosses, the last hoisted high outside the box.
As it fell, Lee Jeong-hyeop chested it sideways for Kim Young-gwon to strike a low volley goalwards from 15m. Though it wasn’t hit with tremendous power, Hassan saw it late and couln’t get down in time to prevent the second goal.
The Koreans wanted to seal the deal, and quickly came again, Hassan twice forced to beat away fierce shots from Yeung and Son. Iraq tried to rouse themselves, but had little creative spark to trouble a Korean defence, industrious though the veteran Mahmood was upfront.
Gheni ploughed a lone furrow down the right, full of speed but short of end product - much like his team as a whole.
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