AYG Football: Republic of Korea romp to clinical 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia

Story by Julian Low/Red Sports. Pictures by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports.

Jalan Besar Stadium, Thursday, July 2, 2009 - The Republic of Korea romped to a 5-0 victory in clinical style over Saudi Arabia in their final group game of the Asian Youth Games football competition.

As the South Koreans celebrated the victory as group winners, there was dead silence from the Saudi Arabian bench when news flowed in that North Korea had beaten Laos 4-2 over at Temasek Polytechnic.

It meant that North Korea had pipped them to a berth in the semi-finals as their goal difference was better than Saudi Arabia's by just 1.

Still, the Saudi’s could only have themselves to blame, as they did not perform up to their usual high standards during the match.

South Korea started off brightly. Their star player Suh Myeongwon tested Saudi Arabia keeper Masrahi Nawaf Ali early with a lobbed shot towards the corner of the goal but it was comfortably saved.

Saudi Arabia kept spraying balls to their own star player, Alnakhli Mohammed Qasem, but he found himself constantly swarmed by at least 3 South Korean players. With a lack of bodies to support him in attack, he cut a forlorn figure up front.

It was only a matter of time before the Koreans struck. Winger and captain Kim Younggyu nudged past his marker on the right flank and crossed the ball in. Defender Aldawsari Mohammed Saeed met the ball, but could only clear it into the path of Kim Gunhee. The forward then slotted it past the keeper into the corner of the net to give his team a 1-0 lead.

Only minutes later, South Korea exploited Saudi Arabia's defensive fragilities again via a corner. Masrahi Nawaf rose high to punch the ball away, but it fell kindly to an unmarked Shim Je-Hyeok who placed it into the goal from close range.

Saudi Arabia had half a chance before the half-time whistle. Captain Aldini Waleed Omar fired a shot outside the box but the ball cruelly went inches wide of the post.

Immediately after the break, Myeongwon grabbed the third goal for his side. It was a team effort which started off when Shim Je-Hyeok attacked down the left flank and crossed for Kim Younggyu who was lurking in the box. He could have scored, but he opted to flick the ball onto the path of an oncoming Myeongwon at the far post. The Portsmouth youth academy player then tapped the ball in coolly.

A few minutes after the re-start, Alnakhli fired an ambitious long shot from 35 yards out. Goalkeeper Lee Donggun stood rooted to the spot, but he breathed a sigh of relief as the ball rebounded off the crossbar.

It would proved to be the last chance for Saudi Arabia as they conceded 2 more goals in the last 15 minutes of the match.

From another corner, substitute and central defender Lim Keunyong was unmarked and he promptly headed the ball into the top corner of the goal.

Shim Je-Hyeok would then complete the goal fest, but he had Roh Sungmin to thank. The left-back went on a marauding run in his own half, beating 3 Saudi Arabian players before unselfishly passing the ball to Shim Je-Hyeok. The South Korean winger put it past Masrahi Nawaf at the far post, grabbing his second goal of the match.

As the final whistle blew, the Saudi Arabians must have thought about their preparations for Saturday’s semi-finals. But their mood dampened when they learnt about North Korea's victory.

South Korea coach Chung Jungyong was delighted with his team performance. He said: "It is really rare for our players to play against such opponents, so it is a good experience for them. They really wanted to win, and they won. I'm happy for them."

With only 2 days to recover for the semi-final match against the People's Republic of China, Chung Jungyong was undaunted. He said, "The game won't be easy, but we will enjoy our rest and do some recovery training. We will relax as much as possible."

Saudi Arabia coach Filho Joaquim was unavailable for interview.