North Korea Shock UAE With 2-1 Win

CelticKing · Sep 6, 2008

North Korea Shock UAE With 2-1 Win

An own goal and an An Hyol-cheol special gave North Korea a 2-1 win over UAE in Abu Dhabi late on Saturday night in the opening game of the final round of Asia’s 2010 World Cup qualification

In a Group B match that came alive in the second half, North Korea took a two-goal lead before the hosts hit back and ensured a tense finish amid almost ten minutes of time that was added on after home fans made their displeasure known by throwing objects on the pitch after Korea’s second.

It was a professional performance from the 1966 World Cup quarter-finalists in the heat of the middle-east.

As expected, the hosts, playing in a stadium still under construction, made most of the running against a stacked visiting defence that is fast assuming legendary status in Asian football.

But the red wall was almost breached after just ten minutes,

Abdulraheem Juma took advantage of a mistake by Ri Jun-il just inside the area but the UAE skipper screwed his shot just wide of the post as the goalkeeper came out.

Midway through the half, Mohamed Al Shehhi crossed from the right byline to find Subait Khater umamrked in the six yard-box but he just failed to conncect.

The second half started in a cagey fashion though the visitors started to look more threatening than in the opening period. Even so, the goal came as a surprise in the 71st minute.

Choe Kum-chol danced into the area and aimed to find the loitering An Hyun-cheok. His cross never reached the substitute and was instead turned in by Basheer Sheed- from close range.

An doubled North Korea’s advantage six minutes later to stun the home fans into silence and send some to the exits.

Given too much space at the edge of the area, An picked his spot and fired home a low shot into the bottom corner of the UAE net.

The subsequent kick-off was delayed as objects were thrown onto the pitch by disgruntled fans. UAE players went to the offending sections to appeal for calm.

When the game did restart the hosts immediately pulled a goal back. A long shot from Saeed hit Ri Kwang-chon and deflected past the despairing dive of Ri Myung-guk.

But try as UAE might for an equaliser, it never came.

Now Bruno Metsu’s men need a result in the same stadium against Iran on Wednesday if dreams of a second World Cup appearance are not to rapidly disappear.

North Korea 'host' South Korea in Shanghai on the same evening.
Click to expand...

M Two One · Sep 6, 2008

That's not shocking to me .. I expect them to be fourth in their group over UAE.

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North Korea Shock UAE With 2-1 Win

CelticKing The Green Monster

M Two One Halló Veröld!

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North Korea Shock UAE With 2-1 Win

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CelticKing The Green Monster

M Two One Halló Veröld!

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