From: Hildegaard Beauregard [ljlife@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, June 14, 2002 6:59 AM
To: Lee Jerome Life
Subject: Korea wins, drags sorry US with them

Reporting from World Cup Watch Central.

Korea beat Portugal 1-0 to win Group D and advance to
the round of 16, and gave a free ticket to the United
States who got trounced by Poland, 3-1.

Poland scored two quick goals in the early minutes and
never looked back. In a desperate effort to score, the
U.S. left themselves open to numerous fast breaks, and
Poland scored again in the second half off a free kick
following one of the breaks. But when news rippled
through the stadium in Daejon that Korea had scored on
Portugal, the roar that went up was undoubtedly U.S.
supporters as well as Koreans. Portugal, a point
behind the U.S. in the group standings, needed at
least a draw, and the U.S. would remain second no
matter how badly they got beat. The result of Korea
knocking out Portugal to advance the U.S. is a
dramatic twist, considering Korea's resentment of the
U.S. over the Olympic speed-skating medal affair and
their desire to avenge that in this soccer tournament.

Korea locked horns with Portugal and showed they were
equal to what is considered one of the world's best.
But they got an advantage when Portugal's Joao Pinto
was given a red card in the 27th minute for a rough
tackle. Portugal would go down to 9 men in the 66th
minute when defender Beto received his second yellow
card. Korea finally scored on the depleted Portugese
in the 70th minute, with a brilliant bit of ball
control from Park Ji Sung. He brought the ball down
with his chest to one side of the goal, flicked it
past a rushing defender with his right foot, then
followed around with his left foot, slicing it just
under Portugal keeper Vitor Baia and between him and
the post.

The U.S. tried to outrun Poland, probably because of
the way Korea had, but it backfired on them, and right
off. From then on, their poor control game did them
in, as bad passes, poor pursuit and timing, and Poland
outjumping them to the ball, wasted all the time of
possession Poland conceded in a defensive stance. But
the Poles could have made it much worse, making
chances and counterattacking beautifully. Against
Korea, Poland's tall players looked heavy and slow, as
the fleet Koreans outjumped them as well as outran
them. But against the U.S., Poland looked like
towering speedsters, jumping to turn back numerous
crosses, racing down the ball, and breaking to the
American goal.

American keeper Brad Friedel made his second penalty
kick save of the tournament (he had one against Korea)
and had several other great saves to steal goals from
Poland. Apart from that, Landon Donovan's lone goal
was about all the U.S. had to cheer.

The results send the U.S. to meet their regional rival
Mexico, while Korea are on to meet their next European
power, Italy.

Watch out, Mission District!

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