South Korea rampant

Sports

By HUXLEY LOVAI
SOUTH Korea kept their quarter-finals chances alive with a thumping 3-0 win over Venezuela in their group D match at the National Football Stadium yesterday.
The game was a scrappy encounter in the opening 20 minutes as the teams failed to hold on to possession. There was end-to-end action as both teams tried to catch each other on the backfoot on every passage of play, with genuine chances in front of goal for the forwards from either side.
The Koreans created the majority of the goal-scoring opportunities, but could not get past the dogged Venezuelan defenders and goal-keeper Franyely Rodriguez.  The score at half time was 0-0.
Both teams picked up where they left off in the second-half, employing the same tactics.
Venezuela had a penalty spot kick awarded in the 72nd minute, but it was saved by Korean keeper Minjung Kim.
Minutes later the South Koreans had a penalty of their own awarded for a hand ball in the box, forward Yeji Namgung made no mistake blasting the ball past Rodriguez to take the lead 1-0 in the 78th min.
From that point on, the Koreans stepped up, scoring two more goals through mid-fielder Chaerin Han and Seongmi Kim to seal the match 3-0.
South Korean coach Songchon Jong was pleased with his team’s effort.  “I was impressed with the way the girl’s played today, with our passing and movement. We finished the game off strongly,” Jong said.
Venezuela coach Jose Catoya could not hide his dissappointment saying his side had performed bravely giving their best.