South Korea will live to see another day of football.

South Korea defeated Kuwait 2-0 in a World Cup qualifying match at Seoul World Cup Stadium Wednesday, powered by two second-half scores.



With the win, South Korea advanced to the fourth and the final round of the Asian qualifying round for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. It ended the third round as the top seed in Group B with 13 points. The fourth round will begin in June, as South Korea will look to play in its eighth straight World Cup and ninth overall.

Striker Lee Dong-gook, the reigning MVP in the domestic K-League, had the first goal in the 65th minute. When Kuwait's defense failed to clear Lee Keun-ho's cross from right, Lee Dong-gook calmly struck the loose ball from the penalty spot to the top left corner.

It was Lee Dong-gook's fifth goal in four career games against Kuwait.

Lee Keun-ho got himself on the score sheet six minutes later. Defensive back Choi Hyo-jin stole Kuwait's clearing attempt in midfield and found Lee just inside the box for the insurance.

South Korea entered the game needing at least a draw to stay alive in the World Cup qualification. It sat tied with Lebanon at 10 points but ahead in the goal difference tiebreaker, with Kuwait trailing by two points. A South Korean loss combined with a Lebanese victory or draw against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Wednesday would have knocked out South Korea.

But the two second-half goals made sure Korea controlled its own destiny. Lebanon was upset by the UAE 4-2 on the road, but will still join South Korea in the fourth round as the No. 2 seed of the group.

Needing a victory to advance, Kuwait was the aggressor early on. Midfielder Waleed Ali launched one from the top of the arc in the 7th minute, forcing Korean keeper Jung Sung-ryong to make a punching save.

Over the first half hour, Kuwait consistently broke down the Korean defense with short, quick passes and penetrated deep into the opposing zone almost at will. Almost at the 30-minute mark, Bader Al-Mutwa struck a hard shot inside the box and Jung had to make another tough save.

About four minutes from half time, Al-Mutwa threatened again, this time pouncing on a loose ball just inside the arc. The diving Jung got a piece of it to keep the game scoreless.

The home side's best first-half chance came in the 28th minute. Lee Dong-gook's nifty pass sent Han Sang-wun in alone on the left wing, but the low shot missed the far post by mere inches.

Kuwait forward Yousef Nasser rang one off the crossbar in the opening moments of the second-half. Jung, who had ventured out in front, was almost caught out of position by the mid-range strike.

But Lee Dong-gook's opening goal turned the tide, and Lee Keun-ho's follow-up took the air out of Kuwait's charge. (Yonhap News)