South Korea too good for Oman
Ken Ferris
South Korea enjoyed their second successive victory in the Asian Games football tournament on Monday as they thrashed Oman 5-2 in group A to almost make certain of a place in the quarter-finals.
Goals from Cho Sung Hwan (24 minutes), Kim Du Hyan (50), Lee Dong Gook (61) and a brace from forward Lee Chon Soo (65 and 86) destroyed Oman as the Koreans, looking to build on their World Cup success under coach Guus Hiddink, dominated the match.
The host nation need just a point from their final group match against Malaysia to clinch a place in the last eight, though their huge goal difference means they should qualify as group winners in the unlikely event of a defeat.
Coach Park Hang-seo, who replaced Dutchman Hiddink after their amazing run to the World Cup semi-finals in June, was delighted with his team as they followed an opening 4-0 win over the Maldives with another impressive display before the home fans.
The Koreans were full of running and sharp, incisive football that kept the Omanis on the back foot throughout the match and their crisp finishing ensured they wrapped up the points long before the end.
In the other group A match Malaysia beat the Maldives 3-1 thanks to a hat-trick from Muhammad Shukor Adan. With Oman beating Malaysia 1-0 in their first group match, their final game against the Maldives will determine if they have a chance of qualifying as runner-up.
China top group C after coasting to a 3-0 win over Bangladesh with goals from Wang Xinxin (34 minutes), Yu Tao (43) and Gao Ming (87) and now have a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals after a 4-0 win over Turkmenistan in their first match.
The group will be decided when China face India, who beat Bangladesh 3-0 in their first game and on Monday gave themselves hope of reaching the last eight with a second-half comeback to beat Turkmenistan 3-1. Bhutia Baichung (8 minutes), Yadav Avishek (56) and Bhutia Baichung (77) got the goals.
Thailand are also in the running for the last eight after their 3-0 victory over Vietnam in group B after a similar scoreline against Yemen last Friday. Narongchai Vachiraban (29 minutes), Issawa Singtong (62) and Kiatisuk Senamuang (83) all found the net on Monday.
The United Arab Emirates, coached by former Switzerland, Inter Milan and Blackburn Rovers coach Roy Hodgson, gave themselves a shot at reaching the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Yemen. Al Jenaibi (6 minutes) and Al Abadla (32) scored the goals.
They have four points after the goalless draw with Vietnam in their first group match and will clinch a quarter-final place if they beat Thailand in their last group game. A point could still see them through as runners-up.
The winners of the six groups plus the two best runners-up qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament, which is played at under-23 level in line with the Olympic soccer tournament.
