Korea beats Zambia 2-1 in friendly soccer match

Korea’s World Cup soccer team beat Zambia 2-1 in a friendly match at Anyang Stadium in Seoul on Wednesday.Zambia, currently placed 44th in the world, went behind after midfielder Lee Keun-ho’s 16th-minute shot. Zambia’s Emmanuel Mayuka scored at the 28-minute mark. Korea again took the lead when Lee Keun-ho scored his second goal on 54 minutes, securing the win. By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldm.com)　　

Aug. 15, 2012

Korea aims to attack porous Brazil defense

Korea will go up against gold-medal favorite Brazil on Wednesday morning in the football semifinals of the London 2012 Olympic Games.Although taking out Great Britain was an enormous task for Olympic team coach Hong Myung-bo, the team’s next task is even greater.Most predictions point in favor of Brazil, some ending with a conservative 2-1 win. But Korea has a chance at causing an upset, as Brazil’s defense has left open almost as many opportunities as its offense has taken.It is no secret that

Aug. 6, 2012

Brazil impressed with South Korea’s energy

Brazil is not expecting an easier path to its first Olympic gold in football just because it avoided having to face host Britain in the semifinals. It will still have to go through what it calls an extremely fit South Korean team.Brazil became a bigger favorite than ever to win the men’s football tournament after the British were eliminated in the quarterfinals, following in the footsteps of other top contenders such as Spain and Uruguay.Even the Brazilians admit they are in good position, but t

Aug. 6, 2012

S. Korea makes historic soccer semifinal

Team faces Brazil Wednesday; Women’s epee team wins silverSouth Korea made its Olympic soccer history by advancing to the semifinals Saturday.Its men’s football team defeated Britain in the quarterfinals to clinch a place in the last four for the first time in the country’s 64-year Olympic history. The victory over the hosts was one of the highlights for Koreans on a rare day of no golds for the country.Both sides failed to affect the 1-1 score line during extra time at the Millennium Stadium in

Aug. 5, 2012

Aloof N. Koreans a mystery

MANCHESTER, England (AP) ― The coach of the North Korean women’s soccer team sat in his chair and placed on the table a black half-inch thick notebook with the word “COACH” ― in English in huge, gray letters ― printed on the front. Beside him sat a man who identified himself as a team manager and also serves as translator, his small tan notebook and pen at the ready.Time for questions.“Do your players have any special motivation when playing against the United States, whether because they’re ran

Aug. 1, 2012

Korea to take on Gabon for chance ...to advance in soccer

LONDON (Yonhap News) ― The South Korean men’s soccer team will face an undermanned Gabon side this week for a chance to reach the quarterfinals at the London Olympics.The African nation will be without starting defender Henri Endong, who was ejected on two yellow cards against Mexico on Sunday. He has been automatically suspended for his next contest.Players who receive two yellow cards, whether in the same game or over two consecutive matches, are ineligible for the ensuing match.Mexico sits at

July 31, 2012

Korea lacks firepower vs. Mexico

NEWCASTLE, England (Yonhap News) ― Before South Korea opened the men’s soccer tournament at the London Olympics Thursday against Mexico, the patchwork defensive line was seen as the team’s Achilles’ heel. The head coach, Hong Myung-bo, acknowledged as much earlier this month.But following its scoreless draw against Mexico that started Group B action in Newcastle, South Korea appears to have an entirely different sort of problem at hand.The defense did yeoman’s work against the Latin Americans; b

July 27, 2012

S. Korea draws Mexico in football opener at London Olympics

NEWCASTLE (Yonhap) -- South Korea played Mexico to a scoreless draw in the opening men's football match at the London Olympics here Thursday.In the Group B contest at St. James' Park, both teams played a lackluster opening half, but South Korea began the second half with a bit more juice. In the 50th minute, winger Kim Bo-kyung curled one past the left post from the top of the arc. In the 52nd, ca

July 27, 2012

Flag row mars N.K. match

LONDON (Yonhap News) ― A women’s soccer match at the London Olympics between North Korea and Colombia was delayed by about an hour Wednesday after organizers mistakenly displayed the South Korean national flag on the scoreboard.North Korean players refused to take the field after the flag row took place during player introductions at Hampden Park in Glasgow. Organizers apologized for the mishap.“Today, ahead of the women’s football match at Hampden Park, the Republic of Korea flag was shown on a

July 26, 2012

South Korea to open football tournament against Mexico

LONDON (Yonhap News) ― South Korea will kick off its London Olympics football tournament on Thursday against Mexico in Newcastle.St. James’ Park will be the venue for the Group B opener at 2:30 p.m. local time, as South Korea seeks to win its first Olympic medal in football. Other nations in the group are Switzerland and Gabon.It will be South Korea’s first action at this year’s Olympics, coming a day before the opening ceremony. The men’s football tournament at Olympics often begins before the

July 25, 2012

Mario Balotelli paid the highest bar bill ever at Ibiza

Mario Balotelli enjoys clubbing.(Twitter)Mario Balotelli spent a venue’s biggest ever bar bill as he partied at an exclusive club in Ibiza, an Spanish Island famous for clubbing.The striker of Italy and Manchester City spent thousands of pounds at the Ocean Beach Club and set a new record for the venue.Many big-spending soccer stars visited the new venue owned by Gary Lineker’s brother Wayne this

July 24, 2012

Celtic star Ki eyes England move

LONDON (AFP) ― South Korea’s Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-yueng admitted that he fears for the Scottish Premier League after the Rangers’ dramatic collapse and that he would be interested in a move to England.The 23-year-old has been linked with a transfer to Liverpool or QPR following the demotion of the Rangers from the top flight due to financial problems.And while he is concentrating on Korea’s Olympic Games campaign, Ki believes a move away from Celtic could help his career.“Definitely, if Ran

July 22, 2012

Park captains QPR

KOTA KINABLU, Malaysia (Yonhap News) ― New Queens Park Rangers midfielder Park Ji-sung was given the captaincy during his first match in the team’s uniform in Malaysia on Tuesday.The 31-year-old South Korean joined QPR last week from Manchester United.During QPR’s first preseason friendly match against the Sabah Selection XI held in Kota Kinabalu, Park played the first half in the captain’s armband, while he failed to score.QPR defeated Sabah 5-0. Currently, QPR does not have an official skipper

July 18, 2012

Park Ji-sung captains Queens Park Rangers

New Queens Park Rangers (QPR) midfielder Park Ji-sung was given the captaincy during his first match in the team‘s uniform held in Malaysia on Tuesday.The 31-year-old South Korean player joined the QPR last week from Manchester United.During QPR’s first pre-season friendly match against a Sabah Selection XI held in Kota Kinabalu, Park ran for the first half in the captain‘s armband, while he failed to score.QPR defeated Sabah 5-0.Currently, QPR does not have an official skipper after an internal

July 18, 2012