S.Korea beat N.Korea in E.Asian Games football

Football took centre stage on Saturday at the East Asian Games in Hong Kong, where South Korea beat neighbour and old foe North Korea on penalties to take the bronze medal.

In a game played in a strong spirit of camaraderie between the opposing Koreas, the South took the game 4-2 on spot kicks after the game ended the 90 minutes 1-1.

Keeper Kim Min-Kyu was the hero for the South, saving two penalties.

The South took the lead against the run of play in the 24th minute, striker Go Min-Gi benefiting from a fortunate ricochet and a static North defence to fire home unchallenged from close range.

The goal seemed to give the South self-belief, and they enjoyed the better of the rest of the first-half, full-back Kim Ho-You rattling the crossbar on the stroke of half-time with a direct free-kick.

But within seven minutes of the restart North Korea were level, Pak Song-Chol’s weak shot from outside the box somehow creeping through a packed penalty area before nestling in the bottom corner.

It was now all North Korea and they wasted several excellent chances before the South thought they had sealed the game with two minutes left, but Go’s close-range header was ruled offside.

There was no extra time.

The hosts take on Japan in the final later Saturday at a sell-out 40,000 Hong Kong Stadium.