Nigeria outplay North Korea amid violence
TEMBISA:
Nigeria delivered a World Cup boost to thousands of supporters with a 3-1 triumph over fellow qualifiers North Korea in a warm-up marred by stampeding fans.
This was the final warm-up for both teams with both team set to debut against South American opposition - North Korea facing Brazil on June 15 while the ‘Super Eagles’ face a difficult Group B debut on June 12 against Argentina.
Obinna Nsofor converted a penalty midway through the second half, Tae-Se Jong reduced arrears almost immediately and substitute Obafemi Martins confirmed the dominance of the ‘Eagles’ with a late goal.
Slick passing set Everton striker Yakubu Aigeybeni clear on 16 minutes after early Nigeria pressure and he gave goalkeeper Myong-Guk Ri no chance with a fierce close-range shot that flew into the far corner. Asian fullback Jong-Hyok Cha, one of two Japan-based stars in the Korean line-up, impressed up front only to be starved of support in a 5-3-2 system adopted by a country back at the World Cup after a 44 year absence.
Jong got his reward by intercepting a careless cross field pass and giving the goal-keeper no chance. But he was sent off with Korea trailing 2-1 when he disputed the referee’s yellow card decision.
Nigeria put the result beyond doubt five minutes into added time when a cross eluded Ri and unmarked former Newcastle United striker Martins nodded over the line.
World Cup’s ‘Dark Horses’
Nicknamed ‘Chollima’ after a mythical horse too fast to be mounted, North Korea will face Brazil, 2006 semi-finalists Portugal and African giants Ivory Coast in the first round. But none of their rivals will need reminding of what happened in 1966, the last time a team from the most secretive state on earth competed at the four-yearly international football showcase.
North Korea held Chile 1-1 and stunned Italy 1-0 in England to reach the quarter-finals where they led Portugal 3-0 before Mozambique-born Eusebio rescued his adopted country with four goals in a 5-3 triumph.
Just qualifying for South Africa was a massive achievement for 54-year-old coach Kim Jong Hun and a largely home-based team bolstered by two professionals from Japan and one from Russia. Although written off by the bookmakers as no-hopers, they will arguably be among the best prepared of the 32 World Cup contenders having been together for nine months.
The Koreans started with a training camp last October in the western French city of Nantes where they drew 0-0 with Congo and have also played in South America, Central America, Africa and other European countries.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 8th, 2010.
Nigeria delivered a World Cup boost to thousands of supporters with a 3-1 triumph over fellow qualifiers North Korea in a warm-up marred by stampeding fans.
This was the final warm-up for both teams with both team set to debut against South American opposition - North Korea facing Brazil on June 15 while the ‘Super Eagles’ face a difficult Group B debut on June 12 against Argentina.
Obinna Nsofor converted a penalty midway through the second half, Tae-Se Jong reduced arrears almost immediately and substitute Obafemi Martins confirmed the dominance of the ‘Eagles’ with a late goal.
Slick passing set Everton striker Yakubu Aigeybeni clear on 16 minutes after early Nigeria pressure and he gave goalkeeper Myong-Guk Ri no chance with a fierce close-range shot that flew into the far corner. Asian fullback Jong-Hyok Cha, one of two Japan-based stars in the Korean line-up, impressed up front only to be starved of support in a 5-3-2 system adopted by a country back at the World Cup after a 44 year absence.
Jong got his reward by intercepting a careless cross field pass and giving the goal-keeper no chance. But he was sent off with Korea trailing 2-1 when he disputed the referee’s yellow card decision.
Nigeria put the result beyond doubt five minutes into added time when a cross eluded Ri and unmarked former Newcastle United striker Martins nodded over the line.
World Cup’s ‘Dark Horses’
Nicknamed ‘Chollima’ after a mythical horse too fast to be mounted, North Korea will face Brazil, 2006 semi-finalists Portugal and African giants Ivory Coast in the first round. But none of their rivals will need reminding of what happened in 1966, the last time a team from the most secretive state on earth competed at the four-yearly international football showcase.
North Korea held Chile 1-1 and stunned Italy 1-0 in England to reach the quarter-finals where they led Portugal 3-0 before Mozambique-born Eusebio rescued his adopted country with four goals in a 5-3 triumph.
Just qualifying for South Africa was a massive achievement for 54-year-old coach Kim Jong Hun and a largely home-based team bolstered by two professionals from Japan and one from Russia. Although written off by the bookmakers as no-hopers, they will arguably be among the best prepared of the 32 World Cup contenders having been together for nine months.
The Koreans started with a training camp last October in the western French city of Nantes where they drew 0-0 with Congo and have also played in South America, Central America, Africa and other European countries.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 8th, 2010.