S. Korea beat Iraq 2-1 in friendly football match

SUWON, South Korea, March 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea beat Iraq 2-1 in a football friendly Saturday, four days ahead of its crucial encounter with North Korea in an Asian World Cup qualifier.

The two Koreas, along with Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE),
make up Group B in Asian qualifying rounds. The UAE, with four losses and a draw,
has virtually dropped out of contention but the four other countries still have
mathematial chances to advance to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
North Korea, which now tops Group B after a 2-0 victory over the UAE earlier in
the day, will arrive in Seoul on Sunday for a match with South Korea in Seoul on
Wednesday.
In Saturday's friendly at Suwon, a provincial city 40 kilometers south of Seoul,
Iraq went ahead at the 54th minute when defender Hwang Jae-hoon headed the ball
into his team's own net during a goalmouth melee.
Two minutes later, South Korean mid-fielder Kim Chi-woo equalized the score by
connecting a cross from the right side just inside the penalty arc. Forward Lee
Keun-ho later scored a penalty kick obtained by fellow forward Ki Sung-yueng.
South Korea, a semi-finalist in the 2002 World Cup it co-hosted with Japan, is
now seeking their seventh straight World Cup berth.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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