SEOUL: Park Chu-young came off the bench to score a late goal yesterday to give South Korea a 1-0 win over Paraguay in a friendly. The Monaco winger collected the rebound after goalkeeper Justo Villar had deflected a close-range shot and fired the ball into the top corner in the 83rd minute. Paraguay was missing star striker Roque Santa Cruz, who was recovering from knee surgery. South Korea coach Huh Jung-moo didn't select several key players, including Manchester United's Park Ji-sung and recent Bolton
Wanderers signing Lee Chung-yong.
The South Koreans, which have already qualified for next year's World Cup with an unbeaten record, have usually struggled against South American teams. Paraguay has now lost four straight matches and is yet to qualify for the tournament in South Africa. South Korea finished top of its qualifying group with 16 points, four ahead of North Korea, which also advanced. It was the first time North Korea had reached a World Cup since 1966, and it will be the first time the two Koreas play in the same World Cup.
Paraguay is third in its qualifying group with 24 points, two points clear of Argentina and four ahead of Ecuador. The top four teams qualify automatically. The hosts' best attempt in the first half was Yeom Ki-hun's 38th-minute free kick that was stopped in a diving save by Villar. Lee Dong-gook, playing his first international for South Korea since the 2007 Asian Cup, had earlier had a header from a free kick stopped by the goalkeeper.
Paraguay improved in the second half but still rarely threatened - Salvador Cabanas failed to properly connect with a cross in the 55th and Oscar Cardozo sent his shot wide in the 75th. South Korea will play Australia and Senegal in upcoming friendlies, so Huh can likely expose his team to different playing styles. Paraguay next faces Bolivia and Argentina in qualifiers. - AP
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hihihi ..., emang bukan
Park Ji Sung 