Japan fall to Korea in World Cup warm-up

May 25, 2010

Japan fell 2-0 to Korea Republic in a Kirin Challenge Cup friendly match – the first of three warm-up matches ahead of the World Cup – at Saitama Stadium on Monday.

Manchester United midfielder Park Ji Sung struck the opener early in the game and substitute forward Park Chu Young scored from the spot in stoppage time.

Injuries forced Japan coach Takeshi Okada to change his lineup, with Marcus Tulio Tanaka, Atsuto Uchida, Daisuke Matsui, Junichi Inamoto and Keiji Tamada all out.

Yuki Abe came in as a center-back, Yuto Nagatomo played as right-back and Yasuyuki Konno filled the left-back position, and the makeshift backline soon found themselves on the defensive as the Koreans applied early pressure.

In fact, the visitors got on the scoreboard six minutes into the game, when Park Ji Sung took a pass from Kim Jung Woo, outran the Japanese defense and fired in a low shot from the right edge of the box.

Korea continued to apply pressure, with Park Ji Sung and Ki Sung Yueng controlling the midfield, while Lee Jung Soo and Kwak Tae Hwi were solid at the back.

The 2002 World Cup semifinalists threatened the Japanese goal again in the 14th minute when a Kim Jung Woo header from a Ki Sung Yueng corner went narrowly wide.

Yoshito Okubo attempted to kickstart Japan’s attack with a good run and shot in the 21st minute and he tried a more spectacular effort from a Makoto Hasebe cross a minute later, but his shot was easily handled by Korea goalkeeper Jung Sung Ryong. In the 40th minute, Keisuke Honda also tried his luck from the edge of the box.

With the Koreans’ defense looking solid, Okada brought on Catania forward Takayuki Morimoto in the 63rd minute and the Serie A player had a good early attempt that was denied by Jung.

With time running out, Japan then gave up a penalty. Monaco striker Park Chu Young dribbled into the box and was upended by Narazaki. English referee Stuart Atwell pointed to the spot and Park claimed the penalty for himself, stroking the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

“We planned to finish the first half 0-0, but we couldn’t do that after giving up the first goal and facing a strong defense. They scored after picking up a loose ball and we failed to block that.”

“We were able to pass the ball around more and find space in the second half, but we may have to think about changing the way we start the game and bring in more defensive players in the first half.”

Korea coach Huh Jung Moo said, “Both teams played hard and showed good football, and this game gave us something positive ahead of the World Cup.”

“Our players played well and didn’t lose their cool despite playing before a full house, and that helped us win today,” Huh added.

Both Korea and Japan will now head to Europe for preparation camps.

Japan will play England on May 30 in Graz, Austria, and Ivory Coast on June 4 in Sion, Switzerland, in their final warm-ups for the 2010 finals in South Africa.

In the World Cup, Korea will play Greece, Argentina and Nigeria in Group B, while Japan will meet Cameroon, the Netherlands and Denmark in Group E.

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