S. Korea`s World Cup squad returns with boosted confidence

INCHEON, Nov. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's World Cup squad returned home Thursday, relishing a 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in an Asian qualifier and consolidating their lead in the race for a ticket to the 2010 finals.

South Korea defeated their Middle East archrivals in Riyadh Thursday morning
(Korean time) and boosted their points to seven to lead Group B of the final
Asian qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.
The win propelled the 2002 World Cup semi-finalists to a clear edge in their
campaign for their seventh straight ticket to the finals, with Iran trailing in
second place, two points behind.
The victory also marked the first time South Korea has beaten Saudi Arabia in
nearly two decades. The two teams stand only a notch apart in the world rankings,
with South Korea standing lower at 53rd.
"We have gained hope that we can be stronger and that the squad is finding its
peak form," coach Huh Jung-moo told reporters at Incheon International Airport,
west of Seoul. He praised the younger players for assimilating well into his
team.
"Younger players are finding their place in the squad, which creates hopes and
makes the team stronger," he said.
Lee Keun-ho and Park Chu-young, both 23, combined two second-half goals each to
help their team take its second win of the final qualifying round. Lee scored in
the 77th by tapping in a goal after a sharp inside-box cross from Manchester
United winger Park Ji-sung, and Park Chu-young of AS Monaco curled in a mid-range
shot shortly into injury time to close the deal.
South Korea will face Iran in February next year, their fourth match in the final
qualifying round. South Korea drew 1-1 with North Korea in September and pummeled
the United Arab Emirates 4-1 last month.
Ten Asian teams are competing in two groups in the qualifying round that will end
in June next year. Two from each group are given berths in the World Cup in South
Africa, while the third-placed squads will start their own playoffs.
(END)