Son Heung Min extra time double sees Koreans through to semis over gallant Uzbekistan

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This was published 9 years ago

Son Heung Min extra time double sees Koreans through to semis over gallant Uzbekistan

By Michael Lynch
Updated

South Korea became the first team through to the semi-finals of the Asian Cup after they saw off Uzbekistan in extra time of a hard fought and exhilarating quarter-final in Melbourne.

Their star player, Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Son Heung Min, scored twice in addtional time, his opener cming at the end of the first period of extra time with a stooped header, the second in the dying moments of the second period with a fierce shot after a brilliant run by substitute Cha Du Ri.

The first goal came when Korean full back Kim Jin Su robbed his Uzbek counterpart Shukhrat Mukhammadiev on the edge of the Uzbek penalty area. Kim's cross took a deflection before bouncing to Son, whose header was fumbled by the hitherto excellent Ignatiy Nesterov before trickling agonisingly, for the Uzbeks, over the line.

The sealer came in the last minute, with Cha bursting clear on the right before cutting the ball back for Son to smash past Nesterov.

Leaving it late: Korea needed extra-time to see off Uzbekistan.

Leaving it late: Korea needed extra-time to see off Uzbekistan.Credit: AFP

It was a scoreline that flattered the victors, but they won't care about that. Uzbekistan still hasn't defeated South Korea in more than 20 years.

Uzbekistan began the game at breathaking pace, determined to impose themselves straight away..

Coach Mirdjalal Kasmiov made two changes to the team that saw off Saudi Arabia 3-1 on Sunday night, but there was still no place in the starting eleven for the biggest name in Uzbek football, Server Djeparov.

South Korea's German coach Uli Stielike had warned pre-game that this would be as much a mental test for his side as a footballing one, as they had to learn to live with the weight of pressure imposed on them by their demanding fans.

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It was the Uzbeks who played with freedom and adventure. Bakhodir Nasimov had an early sighter with a first time shot that drifted wide, then Lutfulla Turaev dived but failed to make contact with a cross from Ahmedov.

Then it was the turn of Sanjar Tursonov to go close, with goalkeeper Kim Jin Hyeon denying him after he shot when the Korean defence failed to clear.

Odil Ahmedov then had a decent chance which he volleyed over from a cross by the marauding wing back Vitaliy Denisov.

At this stage it looked as though something of an upset might be on, but after weathering the opening storm South Korea suddenly steadied and began to put themselves into the contest.

Their first real forward thrust came from a wriggling run by Kim Jin Su down the left, then Lee Jeongyop, played through, took his shot too early and hit the side netting. That presaged a period of South Korean pressure when Nesterov kept his team in the match with a couple of excellent saves in quick succession.

He came off his line quickly to block Lee Keun Ho's drive towards goal and then stopped Nam Tae Hee's follow up. Son Heung Min made space for himself beautifully before firing in a wicked shot which Nesterov dived to tip over.

The Uzbeks suffered a major injury blow when Ahmedov was forced to leave through injury on the half hour, replaced by Timur Kapadze.The "White Wolves" momentum slowed without their key midfielder and the Koreans dominated possession in the second part of the opening half.

Nesterov showed his first half heroics were no accident when he produced two fine saves early in the second period, the first scrambling to clear Son Heung Min's free kick, the second to dive spectacularly to keep out Lee jeonghyeop's header.

At the other end the Uzbeks almost took a freaskish lead when goalkeeper Kim's clearance cannoned off one of his own defenders and looked, for a second, as if it might bounce back into his own net. Kim then redeemed himself when he dived bravely at the feet of Rashidov as the midfielder chased down a long ball.

Kee Keun Ho could have done better with a volley just wide when the Uzbek defence failed to clear.

But the best chance to this point fell to Turaev just 13 minutes from time who had a totally free header after Sardor Rashidov skipped round Lee Keun Ho to present him with an opportunity that seemed harder to miss. But the forward managed, heading wide from close range.

Nam Tae Hee was almost as guilty at the other end, somehow not even connecting with Ki Sung Yeung's cross with the goal gaping.

The clock ticked inexorably towards extra time, but the Koreans had the fortune, and that little extra, where it mattered most.

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