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S. Korea defeats Iraq 2-0 to reach Asian Cup final

January 26, 2015

South Korea’s Kim Jin-su, celebrates after the AFC Asian Cup semifinal soccer match between South Korea and Iraq in Sydney, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2015. (AP Photo/Quentin Jones)

SYDNEY (Yonhap) — South Korea defeated Iraq 2-0 to reach the final of the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in 27 years.

Forward Lee Jeong-hyeop and defensive back Kim Young-gwon scored a goal apiece in each half on Monday to put South Korea on the path to its first Asian Cup title since 1960.

The championship final will be Saturday (1 a.m. PT), also in Sydney. The other semifinals showdown will be between Australia and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday in Newcastle.

The 69th-ranked South Korea and the 114th-ranked Iraq had a cautious start in rainy conditions, before Lee jolted life into the listless match with his second goal of the tournament.

Left fullback Kim Jin-su sent a curling free kick toward the goal from the right flank and the 186-centimeter striker jumped over a crowd of defenders to redirect it past goalkeeper Jalal Hassan.

Trying to turn the tide after Lee’s goal, Iraq got deep into the South Korean zone on a few occasions but failed to generate much offense from there.

South Korea doubled the lead just five minutes into the second half. Following a mediocre clearing attempt by Iraq, Nam Tae-hee sent a towering pass toward the box and Lee Jeong-hyeop dropped it for Kim Young-gwon with his chest.

Kim then took what appeared to be a harmless shot but it went off a leg of defender Salam Shakir and bounced into the net, just past the diving goalkeeper Hassan.

South Korea didn’t let up after going up by two. In the 55th, Ki Sung-yueng tested Hassan with a hard shot from just outside the box. Moments later, it was Son Heung-min’s turn to put a shot on net, as Hassan was forced to make another tough save.

South Korea gradually turned sloppy in its own end, and Iraq looked to take advantage. Yet it was much the same story for Iraq in the second half, as its possession deep in the South Korean zone mostly proved futile.

Iraq managed only two shots on goal, compared to seven by South Korea.

South Korea started the tournament with lethargic defensive efforts against Oman and Kuwait, though it managed to win both matches by 1-0. It earned a hard-fought, 1-0 win over Australia to win Group A, and then took down Uzbekistan 2-0 in extra time with a solid defensive match.

The team’s defense on Monday still left room for improvement, but fullbacks Cha Du-ri and Kim Jin-su did fine work covering their men and throwing their bodies in front of Iraqi shots.