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S. Korea crowned after beating China 2-0
Korea Republic's U-20 team claimed the AFC Youth Championship for a record 11th time on Saturday as a brace by Park Chu-young gave them a 2-0 win over 10-man China at the Cheras Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. Park struck twice with in the space of seven minutes late in the first half as the Koreans put on their most dominant display of the tournament against the previously unbeaten Chinese.
The Korea University striker, who was later named Emirates Player of the Tournament in addition to winning the Golden Boot, scored the opening goal with a fine solo effort in the 37th minute and found the net for the sixth time in the tournament just a minute before the break as he dispatched an excellent through ball by strike partner Kim Seung-yong. China attempted to battle back in the second hope but their hopes suffered a major blow when midfielder Wang Hongliang was dismissed after receiving his second yellow card midway through the second half. The historical omens had pointed to a Korean win as they had won or shared the title on all three previous occasion that the tournament had been held in Malaysia, and had also beaten the Chinese in both of their previous meetings in the final in 1982 and 1996. However, China were seen as the team in form heading into the final with four wins in a row in the tournament as well as three victories over the Koreans in Under-20 friendlies earlier this year. As promised, coach Yin Tiesheng gave highly-rated striker Dong Fangzhou an opportunity to play as he started a match for the first time in this tournament. However, the player who was signed by Manchester United in a blaze of publicity earlier this year was effectively shackled throughout the match by the outstanding Korean defence. Roared on by a large and very vocal group of supporters, the energetic Koreans took the game to their opponents in the opening half, pummeling the Chinese defence with wave upon wave of attack. They could have had the lead after just nine minutes as Baek Seung-min’s shot from the top of the box beat China goalkeeper Guan Zhen but was cleared off the line by defender Ren Yongshun. Park Chu-young and Kim Seung-yong had been pinpointed by China coach Yin as Korea’s main threats and the two forward proved to be a constant menace with their strong running constantly stretching the Chinese defence to breaking point. Having prodded and poked at their opponents for much of the opening half, the Koreans finally broke the deadlock in the 37th minute thanks to a magnificent solo goal by Park. There appeared to be no danger when he received the ball on the left side of the Chinese penalty box but with the opposition defence standing off, the Korean forward embarked on a solo run that covered nearly the entire width of the box before finding an opening and sliding the ball past Guan Zhen. Korean skipper Kim Jin-kyu went close as he headed wide but the defending champions were not to be denied in the 44th minute as Kim Seung-yong flicked the ball into the box with the outside of his right boot towards the onrushing Park who fired a first-time shot which gave Guan absolutely no chance. The Koreans had given a highly energetic performance in the opening half but there was to be no let-up after the break as Park went in search of his hat-trick goal. He went close to achieving that aim on 49 minutes when he broke free on goal but placed the ball just wide of the far post and shortly afterwards when he glanced a header narrowly off target. The Chinese needed a goal in the worst possible way and they went close on the hour mark as striker Zhu Ting nearly capitalized after goalkeeper Cha Ki-seok misjudged the flight of a high cross and dropped the ball at Zhu’s feet before regathering it at the second attempt. Moments later, Chen Tao sent an inviting cross from the right into the danger area but Zhu sent his diving header just wide of the target. China were enjoying their best spell of the match but the wheels fell off their challenge in the 66th minute when they were reduced to 10 men after Wang Hongliang angrily disputed a decision and was shown his second yellow card of the match. Despite that setback, China could have reduced the deficit just two minutes later as Zhu fed the ball to Zhao Xuri, whose low shot went agonizingly wide of the Korean upright. The numerical disadvantage was to prove too difficult an obstacle for the Chinese to surmount and Korea gradually turned the screws in the closing stages as Kim Seung-yong saw his shot tipped wide while substitute Park Jong-jin headed narrowly over the crossbar. There was to be no further scoring though and the final whistle signaled Korea Republic’s second consecutive AFC Youth Championship title and their fourth victory in the last five editions of the tournament. |
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