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Honors shared Japan, South Korea play out 1-1 draw in Tokyo
Updated: Wednesday December 20, 2000 9:59 AM
TOKYO (AP) -- Japan and South Korea, co-hosts of the 2002 World Cup, fought to a 1-1 draw Wednesday in an annual friendly match between the two neighboring countries. The Korean national squad led 1-0 at halftime. The game was one of their two goodwill events in as many weeks for promotion of sports exchanges. On January 3, a Japan-South Korea joint allstar team takes on a world selection at International Stadium Yokohama, site of the World Cup final. Playing before a capacity crowd of 54,000 at Tokyo National Stadium, Ahn Jung-hwan, a forward for Italy's Perugia, silenced Japanese fans by shooting the Koreans ahead in the 14th minute. Ahn dribbled past a defender and slammed the ball home past goalie Seigo Narazaki, whose sight was blocked by several defenders during a Korean attack. In the 18th minute, Korean goalie Kim Byung-ji drew big applause from Korean fans when he saved Kashima Antlers' ace striker Atsushi Yanagisawa's penalty kick, helping keep the Asian champion at bay. Eight minutes later, the Korean team was reduced to 10 men after Singaporian referee Shamsul Maidin sent off midfielder Kim Sang-sik for complaining about a ruling on rough play. Following Kim's eviction, the Koreans tightened their defense. After the interval, Japan staged a series of attacks, equalizing in the 56th minute on Toshihiro Hattori's header during a goalmouth melee. Atsushi Yanagisawa lobbed a perfect cross from the right flank for Hattori to score. "In general, I am satisfied with the game," said Frenchman Philippe Troussier, Japan's head coach. "The team could have had better results, but the team members deserve a due recognition for their spiritual motivation and strength shown throughout." Acting for the Korean team's new head coach Guus Hiddink, Park Hang-suh said: "I am glad that the team fought so well. In contents of the play, I think we did better than the opponent." Hiddink, a former Netherlands coach, was on hand just watching the Koreans play. He signed a contract in Seoul Monday to take charge of the Korean national team. In the 90-minute match, Japan outshut South Korea 15-7. Overall, South Korea now leads Japan with 35 victories against 11 losses and 15 draws since a Korean national squad beat its Japanese counterpart 5-1 in an elimination round for the World Cup in 1954. Japan -- GK: Seigo Narazaki. DF: Toshihiro Hattori, Ryuzo Morioka, Naoki Matsuda. MF: Hiroshi Nanami, Tomokazu Myojin, Shunsuke Nakamura, Teruyoshi Ito, Shinji Ono. FW: Atsushi Yanagisawa, Hideaki Kitajima. South Korea -- GK: Kim Buyung-ji. DF: Hong Myung-bo, Kang Chul, Lee Min-sung. MF: Lee Eul-yong, Choi Sung-yong, Kim Sang-sik, Lee Young-pyo, Lee Chun-soo. FW: Choi Yong-soo, Ahn Jung-hwan.
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