South Korea opened its 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament at home to Lebanon. New Arsenal (England) signing and newly minted captain of the Taegeuk Warriors Park Chu Young made quite a statement to celebrate his two new achievements. The captain rocked Lebanon's goal with a hat trick, with the first two providing for the only goals of the first half.South Korea continued to steamroll an overmatched Lebanon side that had lost its previous qualifier at Bangladesh in July. Four more goals rained in, including the Park Chu Young's third, as the South Koreans took care of business in convincing fashion 6-0.
Kuwait had eliminated emerging force Philippines in the second round, but now faced fellow Arab foes United Arab Emirates as visitors to open their Group C account. The foreign scenery did not face the Kuwaitis in the slightest, and they grabbed their opening goal before the ten-minute mark. The 1-0 lead was safe through the completion of the first period.
Kuwait's second goal came six minutes after the restart off a monstrous thirty-yard redirect off a free kick that was struck marvelously into the upper ninety by Bader Al Mutwa to further silence the crowd at Al Ain. The shot was perhaps the goal of the day in the FIFA World Cup. Yousef Al Suleiman completed his brace fifteen minutes later, and the socreboard read 3-0. UAE stormed back in the final ten minutes to make things interesting, but neither goal was fully enjoyed by either the players or the crowd because the dismal reality of a home loss remained after both strikes. Time ran out on the Emiratis, and Kuwait won 3-2.
UAE's coach Srecko Katanec was blamed for poor tactics. Kuwait torched the left side of the Emirati defense on all three goals, a weakness that should have been known to Katanec after UAE hemorrhaged two late goals to India to end up with a 2-2 tie in UAE's previous qualifier. In addition, Katanec trotted out a one-striker line up at home, an unexpected defensive posture from a team with aspirations of advancing to the AFC Fourth Round. This loss was UAE's first to Kuwait in their last nine encounters.
Kuwait next host group leaders South Korea on Tuesday, the same day that UAE travel to cellar-dwellers Lebanon.
Goals:
South Korea
Park Chu Young 7, 45+1, 67
Ji Dong-Won 66, 85
Kim Jung Woo 82
Kuwait
Yousef Al Sulaiman 7, 65
Bader Al Mutwa 51
United Arab Emirates
Ismail Al Hammadi 84
Ahmad Khalil 89
Match Reports:
Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qifCmZ0LFa0 (South Korea v. Lebanon)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSVvs9S0dXc (Kuwait v. UAE)
Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mik1WJxKOII (first half South Korea v. Lebanon)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uomjohcPMDM (second half)
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