The Korea Herald

Premier heat

United beats Liverpool as City, Arsenal drawLONDON (AP) ― Robin van Persie ended Manchester United’s five-year wait for a win at Liverpool on Sunday, and Arsenal maintained its unbeaten start to the Premier League season with a draw at Manchester City.Van Persie converted a late penalty kick to clinch a 2-1 victory at Anfield after both teams had paid tribute before the game to the 96 Liverpool fans who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. It was the first game at Anfield since the release of

Sept. 24, 2012

Twice as nice: Son, Park shine

BERLIN (AP) ― Borussia Dortmund’s 31-match unbeaten run in the Bundesliga ended on Saturday in a 3-2 loss to Hamburger SV.Son Heung-min scored twice and Rafael van der Vaart provided two assists to deal Dortmund its first league loss in over a year and preserve Hamburg’s record of 36 games unbeaten set in January 1983.“Not a lot pleased me today,” said Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp.Bayern Munich maintained its winning roll with Thomas Muller scoring and setting up Toni Kroos for a 2-0 win at Scha

Sept. 23, 2012

For Koreans, Europe no longer about the big clubs

The summer of 2012 marked the beginning of a new era for South Korean soccer and not just because of a bronze medal at the Olympic Games. It saw a number of interesting transfers involving star players already in Europe that reflected how attitudes to European transfers are changing. Park Ji-sung, the biggest star in the first serious wave of Korean players to move to Europe, is now in the twilight of his European career. Time has passed, and Kim Bo-kyung’s move to Cardiff City in the English Ch

Sept. 21, 2012

Ulsan edges Al Hilal 1-0

ULSAN (Yonhap News) ― Ulsan Hyundai Tigers of South Korea’s K-League defeated Saudi Arabian rival Al Hilal 1-0 Wednesday in quarterfinal action of the ongoing continental club championship.At Ulsan Munsu Stadium, about 410 kilometers south of Seoul, Brazilian forward Rafinha scored in the ninth minute and the victorious home side held on for dear life in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League action.The win gave Ulsan an upper hand in the two-leg quarterfinal showdown. The second leg

Sept. 20, 2012

Messi’s magic saves Barca

Fabio Quagliarella tied the score in the 80th minute and Juventus rallied from a two-goal deficit for a 2-2 draw at Chelsea as the Blues began their Champions League title defense on Wednesday night.Lionel Messi scored two late goals to give Barcelona a 3-2 home win over Spartak Moscow, and Michael Carrick’s early goal led Manchester United over visiting Galatasaray.At London, Oscar scored on long-range shots in the 31st and 33rd minutes, the first deflecting off Leonardo Bonucci into the corner

Sept. 20, 2012

Ulsan edges Al Hilal 1-0 in Asian Champions League quarters

Ulsan Hyundai Tigers of South Korea's K-League defeated Saudi Arabian rival Al Hilal 1-0 Wednesday in the quarterfinal action of the ongoing continental club championship.At Ulsan Munsu Stadium, about 410 kilometers south of Seoul, Brazilian forward Rafinha scored in the ninth minute and the victorious home side held on for dear life in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League actio

Sept. 19, 2012

Kim Bo-kyung debuts for Cardiff City

South Korean international midfielder Kim Bo-kyung of Cardiff City made his English soccer debut Tuesday. The 23-year-old came on as a substitute for Craig Noone on the 90th minute with his side leading Millwall 2-0 in the second-tier Championship league. It was his first appearance on an English pitch since joining Cardiff City on July 27 on a three-year contract from J-League Division 1 side Cerezo Osaka in Japan. He returned to Cardiff City after playing for the Korean national side against U

Sept. 19, 2012

Late Ronaldo strike jolts City

Paris Saint-Germain earns soccer roundup win over Dynamo KievMADRID (AP) ― Real Madrid scored twice late in an electrifying finish Tuesday to beat Manchester City 3-2 to open the Champions League group stage, while Paris Saint-Germain marked its new big-spending era with an emphatic 4-1 win over Dynamo Kiev.Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo beat goalkeeper Joe Hart in the 90th minute to cap a dramatic comeback as the nine-time Champions League winners twice came from behind for a morale-boosting

Sept. 19, 2012

Everton, Newcastle draw 2-2

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) ― Everton was held to a 2-2 draw by Newcastle in the Premier League on Monday after having a goal disallowed despite the ball appearing to cross the line before being cleared.The score was 1-1 when Everton forward Victor Anichebe’s header hit the underside of the crossbar and the ball seemingly dropped over the line before defender Mike Williamson kicked it away in the 78th minute.“It’s a difficult call, but if you’re a linesman on the goal line you would hope you would s

Sept. 18, 2012

Everton, Newcastle draw 2-2

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) ― Everton was held to a 2-2 draw by Newcastle in the Premier League on Monday after having a goal disallowed despite the ball appearing to cross the line before being cleared.The score was 1-1 when Everton forward Victor Anichebe’s header hit the underside of the crossbar and the ball seemingly dropped over the line before defender Mike Williamson kicked it away in the 78th minute.“It’s a difficult call, but if you’re a linesman on the goal line you would hope you would s

Sept. 18, 2012

Hamburg’s Son Heung-min finds net in loss

Rafael van der Vaart was unable to inspire Hamburger SV in his return as Eintracht Frankfurt beat his team 3-2 to move into a tie atop the Bundesliga on Sunday.Van der Vaart did manage to set up Son Heung-min’s consolation goal for Hamburg, which played the second half with 10 men after Petr Jiracek was shown a red card for a lunge at Brazilian defender Anderson in first-half injury time.Hamburg coach Thorsten Fink was sent to the stands for protesting after Jiracek’s dismissal and watched as St

Sept. 17, 2012

Hamburg’s Son Heung-min finds net in loss

Ulsan vows to win for S. Korea

Ulsan Hyundai Tigers, the only South Korean club left standing at an ongoing continental club competition, will try to do the country proud in the upcoming quarterfinals, the team’s head coach said Monday.The K-League club will host Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at home in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League quarterfinals. It will be the opening game of the two-leg series, with the second match scheduled at Riyadh on Oct. 3. The aggregate score after the two games

Sept. 17, 2012

Park, QPR settle for draw

Park Chu-young makes debut for Celta Vigo in Spanish leagueSouth Korean football star Park Ji-sung of Queens Park Rangers showed his trademark athleticism in his team’s goalless draw against Chelsea on Saturday.At Loftus Road, the 32-year-old made his fourth straight full-time appearance for the club in the English Premier League.Positioned on the left wing, he moved swiftly, creating several goal opportunities and covering the defense. But Park, wearing the captain’s armband, could not help his

Sept. 16, 2012

Top K-League teams brace for stretch run

With the stretch drive in the nation’s top-division soccer league around the corner, head coaches of the top-ranked clubs said Thursday they are bracing themselves for heated competition for the championship.The 16-team K-League has been divided into two groups of eight clubs in the first year of the “split” system. Teams were then placed in the top and the bottom tiers based on their records after 30 games. FC Seoul topped the standing with 64 points, five clear of the second-place Jeonbuk Hyun

Sept. 13, 2012

Military soccer team to boycott rest of season

Sangju Sangmu Phoenix, the military soccer team in the K-League recently ordered down to the second division competition for 2013, will boycott its remaining matches this season, an official said Wednesday.Lee Jae-cheol, the team‘s general manager, said the North Gyeongsang Province team will not play its final 14 games in the K-League, as the first-division competition prepares to begin the second phase of its new “split” system.“The Armed Forces Athletic Corps and the Defense Ministry held tal

Sept. 12, 2012

Ki reflects on own goal

South Korean star midfielder Ki Sung-yueng reflected on the ball he headed into his own net in a World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan on Tuesday. “I should have concentrated more,” the 23-year-old, who plays for Swansea City in the English Premier League, told reporters after the game. “I think my own goal turned the tide of the game.”After 13 minutes, he jumped to deflect a corner with a header, but the ball went into the net. He made amends for the error later by floating a brilliant cross i

Sept. 12, 2012

Spain opens qualifying with win

Spain opened the defense of its World Cup title with a 1-0 win at Georgia on Roberto Soldado’s 86th-minute goal Tuesday night, while England stumbled to a 1-1 tie at home against Ukraine.Spain, the world and European champion, has won 23 consecutive qualifiers since 2007. Soldado scored off a cross from Cesc Fabregas, who entered six minutes earlier.“It was a hard-fought win against a rival that gave us the ball but pulled back into its area,” Soldado said, who was given a rare start up front ah

Sept. 12, 2012

S. Korea held to draw by Uzbekistan in World Cup qualifier

South Korea`s Kwak Tae-hwi (left) scores a goal during a match against Uzbekistan at Pakhtakor Stadium in Uzbekistan. (Yonhap News)South Korea was held to a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan here Tuesday in the regional qualifier for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.At Pakhtakor Stadium, captain Kwak Tae-hwi and striker Lee Dong-gook scored for the visitors, who entered the game as the favorites but we

Sept. 12, 2012

S. Korea held to draw by Uzbekistan in World Cup qualifier

Lee set to spearhead attack

Korea, Uzbekistan to clash in third qualifierLee Dong-gook, one of the best scorers in the Korean professional football league, will spearhead South Korean attacks against Uzbekistan in the Asian qualifying round for the 2014 World Cup.Manager Choi Kang-hee is said to have nearly lined up starters from the cream of domestic- and European-based players for South Korea’s third qualifier in Tashkent on Tuesday.Under his Plan B, Lee may be replaced by Park Chu-young of Celta Vigo in the top Spanish

Sept. 10, 2012

Italy makes sluggish start to World Cup qualifying

Italy was held to a 2-2 tie at Bulgaria, and England, Germany, France and the Netherlands got off to winning starts in their first matches in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.Argentina defeated visiting Paraguay 3-1 in South American qualifying as Lionel Messi scored on a spectacular free kick following goals by Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain, while Colombia routed Uruguay 4-0 and Ecuador beat Bolivia 1-0.Jamaica rallied to beat the United States 2-1 in Kingston as Rodolph Austin and Luton

Sept. 9, 2012

Italy makes sluggish start to World Cup qualifying