Koo shines as S. Korea pip Bahrain

By Suman Malla/Doha

South Korean fans celebrate after their team beat Bahrain in their Asian Cup Group C match in Doha yesterday

A brace from Koo Ja-cheoul gave South Korea a 2-1 victory over Bahraini in their Group C encounter of the Asian Cup at the Al Gharafa Stadium yesterday.
Koo put the Koreans 1-0 up in the 40th minute and doubled his and the team’s tally seven minutes into the second half. Faouzi Aaish netted the Bahraini consolation from a penalty two minutes from time. The Koreans are level on three points in Group C with Australia, but the latter head the table on superior goal difference following a 4-0 win over India earlier on the day.
South Korea, as expected started off strongly, controlling the midfield that forced the Bahrainis in their own territory.
In the seventh minute, Park Ji-sung had a chance after a neat pass from Lee Chung-yong. But the Manchester United midfielder’s weak low shot went straight into the hands of Bahraini goalkeeper Mahmood Mansoor.
After weathering the South Korean storm for the first 15 minutes, Bahrain gradually began to push the ball up field, earning a couple of set pieces. But they rarely posed a threat to the South Korean defence.
As the Koreans’ domination continued, Lee slipped a nice pass to find Koo Ja-cheol on the edge of the area in the 25th minute. But Koo’s powerful shot was grabbed by Mansoor, who produced another save four minutes later again to deny Koo.
Chances kept coming thick and fast for the Koreans as they continued raids from both the flanks but were left frustrated by poor finishing. After shooting over the bar in the 33rd minute, Lee sent Park clear inside the area with a clever pass but the Korean captain’s shot lacked direction.Another Korean chance went abegging in the 39th minute and Park was again the culprit as he headed wide on a teasing cross from Lee Jung-soo. It was just a matter of time before the Koreans strike and Koo gave a goal they were craving in the 40th minute.
 After controlling a long ball from Ki Sueng-yeung, Koo unleashed a right-footed shot which hit the back of the net for the 1-0 lead after taking a deflection of lunging defender Abdulla Marzooqi.
Bahrain had a chance to equalise in the 41st minute but Abdulla Fatadi’s glancing header was wide from close range.
South Korea could have gone into the break with a 2-0 lead but Koo went narrowly wide with his shot on a corner in the 44th minute.The match looked more one-dimensional in the second half with the Koreans stepping up a gear. And they extended the lead to 2-0 in the 52nd minute. Bahraini goalie Mansoor’s weak punch to clear Korean defender Cha Du-ri’s rasping shot only landed in front of well positioned Koo inside the box and the striker made no mistake, slamming the ball into the roof of the net to complete a double.
South Korea held sway but continued to waste chances as Park, Lee Chung-yong were off target which saw coach Cho Kwang-rae shouting at his players from the sidelines.
With the final 10 minutes remaining on the clock, Bahrain surged ahead in a desperate bid for a comeback. Their effort earned them a penalty in the 83rd minute when Faouzi Aaish was brought down inside the area by Korean defender Kwak Tae-hwi, who was shown a straight red for the offence.
The Muharraq midfielder picked himself up to beat Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryung from the resultant penalty to narrow the deficit to 2-1 and raise the Bahraini hopes.
The Gulf team had a chance to level the scores two minutes from time but Korean ’keeper Jung Sung-ryung produced a brilliant save, palming Abdulla Fatadi’s header safely over the bar to secure all three points for his team.