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S. Korea tops New Zealand 1-0 in Cha Du-ri’s final int’l match

March 31, 2015
South Korea's defender Cha Du-ri, left, is comforted by his father Cha Bum-kun, former South Korean soccer player, during his retirement ceremony at half time of a friendly soccer match against New Zealand at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, March 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korea’s defender Cha Du-ri, left, is comforted by his father Cha Bum-kun, former South Korean soccer player, during his retirement ceremony at half time of a friendly soccer match against New Zealand at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, March 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

By Nam Hyun-woo

Roaring ovations warmed the chilly Seoul World Cup Stadium as national team wingback Cha Du-ri bid farewell to his international career during South Korea’s  1-0 victory over New Zealand, Tuesday.

The friendly game between the 56th-ranked Korea and the 134th-ranked New Zealand offered fans a chance to say goodbye to their beloved footballer. Korea’s coach Uli Stielike and his team had a difficult time scoring against the lower-ranked Kiwis.

Stielike has been conducting a series of experiments to find the right combination in the front, but found the mix of Ji Dong-won, Son Heung-min and Han Kyo-won was not the right one.

In the 85th minute, substitute Lee Jae-sung flicked Kim Bo-kyoung’s shot, which was parried by the New Zealand goalkeeper, into the net.

The game was heralded favorable for the Koreans who continued an undefeated five-win-and-one-draw record against New Zealand, but it was a closed game with both sides failing to show creativity and decisiveness.

In the first five minutes, the Koreans took control of the game. However, they couldn’t create many chances, oftentimes failing in providing timely passes to their teammates.

New Zealand’s veteran Christopher Wood had the first shot in the seventh minute, launching a right-footer from a low corner kick, but it went straight to goalkeeper Kim Jin-hyeon.

It took 13 minutes for the Koreans to pick up momentum and make their first goal attempt, with Kim Ju-young heading a Son Heung-min corner to the left of the goal.

The biggest chance for the Koreans was in the 37th minute, when Han Kyo-won was fouled in the penalty box by New Zealand goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic after chasing Ki Sung-yeung’s pass. Penalty taker Son launched a shot to the left of the net, but the goalkeeper denied it, saving his country from a crisis came from his own mistake.

Augsburg forward Ji started the game, as Lee Jeong-hyeop suffered an injury in the previous friendly against Uzbekistan, but he failed to break his four-year goalless streak since September 2011 and was replaced by Lee in the 71st minute.

In the 51st minute, Ji headed a corner kick into the net, but this was ruled a handball as his arm touched the ball before he launched the header.

After Lee replaced Ji, Korea’s attack gained momentum, but took 15 minutes until they saw the game’s only goal.

Besides adding a win in the Korea’s record against New Zealand, the game also marked wingback Cha’s last international game. In a favor to his loyal wingback, Stielike offered a chance for Cha to start the game as captain.

He stepped on the pitch to play his last international football and left after playing 42 minutes being replaced by Kim Chang-soo. Over 33,500 fans in the stadium gave him a standing ovation in gratitude for the 34-year-old’s 14-year long international service.

As Fans cheered Cha, who they believe is still capable of playing several more international matches, Cha thanked them for supporting him so far.

“I have received more love from you than I deserve,” said Cha, who turned emotional while a video clip portraying his international career was played in the stadium during the half-time break.

“I wasn’t the best player, but was trying to be. Fans have acknowledged that, so I can quit international football happily,” Cha said.

During the game, Cha shuttled back and forth on the right flank with his dominating speed, posing threats to the Kiwis.

In the 26th minute, Cha floated a lovely cross to Han Kyo-won, but the ball passed just inches away from Han ― a scene that will be missing in the national team down the road.

The right wingback has represented Korea since Nov. 8, 2011, when Korea took on Senegal in a friendly, and has made 76 appearances since then.

Until Cha retired from 4,765 minutes of international duty, he scored four goals and made seven assists, while playing for Korea in 19 games at major tournaments including the World Cup and the Asian Cup games.

Cha’s first tournament as a national player was the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by Korea and Japan. Playing as a substitute wing-forward, mostly, he surprised fans with an audacious bicycle kick during the round of 16-game against Italy. His attempt was denied by goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, but the moment made people remember him as a footballer, not the son of Korea’s legendary striker Cha Bum-kun.

After the World Cup, he moved to Germany to join Bayer Leverkusen. But he failed to shine there, being mostly confined to the bench and moving to several other German clubs. Before joining Mainz 05 in 2006, he changed his position from forward to wingback, but failed to make a noticeable impression.

Lagging performances forced him to miss the 2006 World Cup games. Rather than being disappointed, however, Cha traveled to Germany to provide commentary. He was not as eloquent as his father, but his energetic voice ― though he couldn’t play on the pitch ― offered a glimpse of his characteristic optimism which fans here remember him by.

Cha was not a favorite choice of former national coaches Dick Advocaat (2005-06) and Pim Verbeek (2006-07), but their successor Huh Jung-moo selected Cha as a right back and he played 11 games under Huh’s coaching. During that period, he contributed to Korea’s advancement to the final 16 in the 2010 World Cup, the first of its kind at a World Cup out of the country.

Although he also missed out on the 2014 World Cup, the incumbent coach Stielike acknowledged Cha’s performance and selected him for Korea’s 2015 Asian Cup campaign.

While Korea made it to the finals in Australia, Cha proved Stielike’s choice was right, making two assists in critical moments. He then announced he would quit international football.

“Until tomorrow, Cha is still an active international player, so it would be more appropriate for him to play a game rather than holding a retirement ceremony at halftime,” said Stielike before Tuesday’s game. “Fans should know how to say good bye to a legend like him. Please send him ovations and cheers that he definitely deserves,” the coach said.

Though he led as captain in only four games, national team insiders say Cha has shown a great leadership on and off the pitch, inspiring teammates with his optimism and passion for the game.

For fans here, the thrill that a footballer with tattoos all over his upper body ― a rare thing among Korean footballers ― bombarding the flank of the pitch with dominating speed will be only seen in club-level games, in which he will play for FC Seoul.

“Having the taeguk (Korea’s national flag) on the jersey is like a privilege to footballers,” said Cha. “Though it is my retiring game, I will do my best for my team’s victory.”

Meanwhile, Tuesday’s game was Korea’s final game before the Asian qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia set for June.

A total of 40 countries will be drawn into eight groups at an event scheduled on April 14 in Malaysia. Korea will play its first group game on June 16 and play a tune-up match five days earlier.