Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Prague: Korea Republic returned to winning ways following their heavy defeat to Spain with a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic as the Taeguek Warriors prepared for the forthcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with an international friendly against the UEFA European Championship-bound side on Sunday.
Yoon Bit-garam opened the scoring 26 minutes into the encounter at the Eden Arena with his first international goal since scoring the extra-time winner in Korea Republic’s 2011 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final victory over Iran.
The China-based midfielder, who plays his club football with the Park Tae-ha coached Yanbian Funde, then turned provider for Porto striker Suk Hyun-jun, who put them two up with five minutes of the first half left to play.
Czech Republic coach Pavel Vbra replaced Michal Kadlec with Marek Suchy for the second half and the substitute made an immediate impact, with the Basel defender reducing the deficit barely a minute into the second half.
The 2015 AFC Asian Cup runners-up were handed the numerical advantage on the hour mark when defender Theodor Gebre Selassie was sent off but neither side could add to the scoreline in the remainder of the the first meeting between the two sides since the Czechs ran out 5-0 winners in a friendly back in August 2001.
Korea Republic resume their qualifying campaign on September 1 when they host China, who are looking to take part in the finals for only a second time following their debut at Korea-Japan 2002, before the Taeguek Warriors take on Syria five days later.
In addition to China and Syria, the South Koreans have been drawn in Group A alongside three-time Asian champions Iran, 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts Qatar, and Uzbekistan, who Korea Republic defeated 2-0 in the quarter-finals of last year’s AFC Asian Cup.
The winner and runner-up of Groups A and B will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia finals while the third-placed teams of each group will advance to the Asian Play-off Round, with the victorious side taking on the team that finishes fourth in the fifth round of the CONCACAF qualifiers in a two-legged inter-confederation play-off.
Photo: AFP