June 13, 2006
COMEBACK KIDS
Korea’s 2nd-half rally turns into 2-1 win

By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor

Frankfurt, Germany -- Korea overcame a one-goal halftime deficit by striking for a pair of second-half goals during an 18-minute span to earn a 2-1 victory over Togo in a World Cup Group G match Wednesday.

Korea, which had never won a World Cup game outside of its own country, connected in the 54th minute and 72nd minutes, with Chun Soo Lee and Jung Hwan Ahn providing the goals.

Despite a major coaching controversy that left the team with a man in charge of the team only days before its World Cup debut, Togo managed a 1-1 draw with Korea in a Group G match on Tuesday.

That Togo had a coach as the match commenced was a semi-miracle.

German-born coach Otto Pfister had walked out on the team during a players bonus pay dispute with the Togolese Football Federation. In his absence, assistant coach Kodjovi Mawuena directed the team and the team reportedly was negotiating with German Winfried Schaefer about the position.

Togo promoted assistant Kodjovi Mawuena to the top job and then talked with German Winfried Schaefer about taking the coaching job.

Pfister, however, had a change of heart Tuesday and returned to the team.

Never had there been so much speculation on who was going to coach a team making its World Cup debut. Reuters put out at least one story saying that Pfister had been listed on the start list for the match. Hours before kickoff an unidentified player told Reuters that Pfister would not be on the bench. Togolese federation officials said they were still negotiating with Pfister, the wire service reported.

Togo scored against the run of play in the 31st minute. Mohamed Kader took a through ball on the right side, split two defenders, bolting past Kim Young Chul before unleashing a 15-yard shot that beat a diving goalkeeper Lee Woon Jae to the lower right side.

Togo's way of playing defensive boarded on thuggery. Players were content on making fouls and punishing the Korean players just about everywhere on the field. The Africans fouled the Koreans in their defensive third, giving their foes a number of free kicks within scoring range. The Koreans couldn't connect, but if this type of "defending," Korea would be able to score.

But it turned out to be a frustrating half for the Koreans. Midfielder Eul Yong Leewas so frustrated as he was walking off the field that he kicked a full water bottle toward the Togo bench.

Those brutal tactics started to catch up to Togo early in the second half as defender and team captain Jean-Paul Abalo was red carded for taking down Ji Sung Park just outside the penalty arc on the right side.

Up stepped Chun Soo Lee Chun, who powered a right-footer that found the left side for a 1-1 tie.

Korea Republic
Woon Jae Lee; Young Chul Kim, Jin Cheul Choi, Jin Kyu Kim (Jung Hwan Ahn-45), Chong Gug Song; Ji Sung Park, Eul Yong Lee (Nam II Kim-67), Ho Lee; Chun Soo Lee, Jae Jin Cho (Sang Sik Kim-82).

Togo
Kossi Agassa; Dare Nibombe, Jean-Paul Abalo , Massamasso Tchangai, Ludovic Assemoassa (Richard Forson-61); Cherif Toure Mamam, Alaixys Romao; Emmanuel Adebayor, Moustapha Salifou (Yao Aziawonou-85), Kader Mohamed, Yao Junior Senaya (Assimiou Toure-54).

Goals
Togo -- Kader Mohamed 31
Korea -- Chun Soo Lee 54
Korea -- Jung Hwan Ahn 72

Discipline
Togo -- Jean-Paul Abalo (yellow card) 23
Togo -- Alaixys Romao (yellow card) 24
Korea -- Young Chul Kim (yellow card) 41
Korea -- Chun Soo Lee (yellow card) 51
Togo -- Jean-Paul Abalo (yellow card) 53
Togo -- Jean-Paul Abalo (red card) 53
Togo -- Massamasso Tchangai (yellow card) 92+

Attendance -- 48,000