Portugal vs South Korea - 2002 World Cup Group Match

Home: World Cup 2002: Korea-Japan Finals: 1st Round: Match Report

Friday June 14th, 2002

Portugal vs South Korea in Incheon (0:1)

Portugal Throw In The Towel

The tension mounted in Incheon as both teams waited for the Argentine referee to get the game underway.

Korea started the more lively running through the middle with little concern for the reputation of names like Figo.

With twenty minutes gone Yoo Sang-Chul, trying to add to his goal tally, shot narrowly wide as the Korean fans screamed ecstatically with every forward surge.

Portugal started to get frustrated and Joao Pinto was quite rightly sent off for a doubled-footed challenge that could have snapped Park Ji-Sung's leg.

The Portugal players tried to appeal but they'll need to watch the video..... the tackle was horrendous..... and Pinto could take the silly plaster off his nose as he was escorted to the tunnel.

There was more drama a couple of minutes later as Choi Jun-Chul knocked the ball out of Vitor Baia's hands and Seol Ki-Hyun turned the loose ball into the net. Baia lay sprawled on the ground and the goal was disallowed.

South Korea then slowed their game down a little and moved the ball around.... out of Portugal's reach.

Pauletta skied his one chance of the half.

Half-time: Portugal 0 - South Korea 0

South Korea came close to scoring at the start of the second-half when Seol Ki-Hyun headed narrowly wide from a free-kick.

The hosts continued to press forward making good use of the extra man with every pass working well. Only the finishing let them down with one shot high and a Yoo Sang-Chul header wide as well.

Portugal's first corner came on the hour..... Pauletta stooped down low to produce a classy back-header that Lee Woon-Jae did well to stop from going under his bar..... then Yoo Sang-Chul headed the loose ball out for Portugal's second corner.

Catastrophe for Portugal as Beto received his second yellow card on 65 minutes....

At least Poland were beating the USA by three goals to nil so all the Portuguese had to do was hold out. Oliveira took off Pauletta for Jorge Andrade as he tried to shore up the defence.

0:1
The substitution didn't help much as Park Ji-Sung took a high cross on his chest, beat Sergio Conceicao and slipped the ball under Vitor Baia.

With two men less and Korea closing them down so well, Portugal could hardly create any space..... although Sergio Conceicao did strike the post in the last minute of normal time.

And then in the last minute of time added on, Sergio Conceicao again had the chance to put Portugal into the Second Round.... if only Lee Woon-Jae wasn't so quick to react in the Korean goal.

So Portugal join France and Argentina at the airport.

Final Score:
Portugal 0 - South Korea 1

Other Group D Match:
Poland vs USA

Man of the Match:
Park Ji-Sung - Showed superb class by taking a high cross on his chest and flicking the ball around Sergio Conceicao to knock Portugal out of the tournament.

Red Cards:
Joao Pinto (27 mins)
Beto (65 mins)

Yellow Cards:
Beto (22 mins)
Kim Tae-Young (24 mins)
Ahn Jung-Hwan (57 mins)
Beto (65 mins)
Kim Nam-Il (75 mins)
Jorge Costa (83 mins)

The Teams

Portugal:
1 Vitor Baia; 2 Jorge Costa, 5 Fernando Couto, 23 Rui Jorge (3 Abel Xavier - 73 mins), 22 Beto; 17 Paulo Bento, 11 Sergio Conceicao, 7 Luis Figo, 20 Petit (21 Nuno Gomes - 77 mins); 9 Pedro Pauleta (13 Jorge Andrade - 69 mins), 8 Joao Pinto.

South Korea:
1 Lee Woon-Jae; 4 Choi Jun-Chul, 20 Hong Myung-Bo, 7 Kim Tae-Young; 22 Song Chong-Gug, 21 Park Ji-Sung, 5 Kim Nam-Il, 6 Yoo Sang-Chul, 10 Lee Young-Pyo; 19 Ahn Jung-Hwan (14 Lee Chun-Soo - 90 mins), 9 Seol Ki-Hyun.

Referee: Angel Sanchez