Korea coach: Ref error gave U.S. win

Updated: Saturday June 08, 2002 01:46 a.m. ET

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KWANGJU, South Korea (Reuters) -- South Korea's coach believes a mistake by officials gave the United States their historic win over Portugal and has complicated the race in group D where the co-hosts lead.

"The second goal I think was a big mistake by the FIFA referee and the linesmen," Dutch-born coach Guus Hiddink told reporters at South Korea's training camp.

"It was clearly, clearly, clearly offside so normally it would have been a draw, a 2-2 draw," he said.

Speedy 20-year-old midfielder Landon Donovan scored from a right-foot cross deflected off the head of defender Jorge Costa as Portugal keeper Vitor Baia was unable to stop the ball going in off the woodwork for a 2-0 U.S. lead after 29 minutes.

"[It] annoyed me very much...[it was] very sleepy refereeing which makes it complicated," Hiddink said.

The United States won the match 3-2 for their best finals result since a 1-0 victory over England in the 1950 World Cup.

Hiddink's side made history a day earlier by beating Poland 2-0 for their first victory at the finals despite five past appearances dating back to 1954.

South Korea entered the finals as the underdogs of group D but now sit first ahead of the United States.

The two sides meet on Monday to earn a place in the final 16 and to silence critics of their weak showings at the World Cup in France four years ago.

Group D rivals Portugal and Poland also play on Monday.

Copyright 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.