SEOUL, 5 June— South Korea emerged as the standard bearers for Asia at the World Cup here yesterday, registering the continent’s first win at the tournament as Japan drew and debutants China lost.
Goals from Hwang Sun-hong and Yoo Sang-chul handed the Koreans a 2-0 victory over Poland at the Pusan World Cup Stadium at the end of a day when football fever gripped the nation.
Tens of thousands of Korean fans occupied central Seoul yesterday as South Korea threw massive support behind the national team, coached by Dutchman Guus Hiddink.
Factories and schools closed as a World Cup frenzy gripped the country with red shirts being worn in a sign of patriotism by housewives and office workers.
More than 80,000 people massed around giant television screens in Seoul ahead of the Group D match in Pusan, and there were wild scenes when the Koreans clinched a morale-boosting opening win.
The win, watched by South Korea President Kim Dae-jung, was the country’s first at a World Cup in six previous appearances stretching back to 1954.
"I’m delighted with the way we played — I’m very proud of the boys," said Hiddink, whose Holland side unluckily lost to Brazil on penalties in the 1998 semifinal.
"I am tired but very happy. The enormous support from Korean football fans was also a great help for us."
Polish counterpart Jerzy Engel hailed a stronger team than his own.
"They were better than us. I can’t complain. It’s no accident that they drew with England and gave France a good game. Now we have to try to target second place and it will be very difficult.
The triumph was made even sweeter for Korea’s fans by the knowledge that bitter rivals Japan had only managed to draw their World Cup opener 2-2 against Belgium in Saitama.
The Japanese had looked set for a dramatic win after goals from Takayuki Suzuki and Arsenal reserve Junichi Inamoto canceled out Marc Wilmots’ spectacular overhead kick.
But Belgium refused to be intimidated by the fanatical home support, and Peter Van der Heyden silenced Japan’s famous ‘Ultra Nippon’ fans with a 75th-minute equalizer.
Though disappointed, his team were unable to close out the match for all three points, Troussier nevertheless insisted he was happy with the draw after Japan had secured three defeats in their 1998 World Cup debut.
"This is an historic point because it is Japan’s first point at a World Cup finals and that deserves to be celebrated.
"We played to win with our qualities and our faults and we also showed our inexperience," he said.
Both Japan and South Korea are desperately aiming to avoid being the first World Cup hosts to fail to qualify for the second round.
After yesterday’s results, Korea were better placed to go through, with games against Portugal and the United States to come. Japan face an awkward meeting with Russia before playing Tunisia in their final group match.
But while Japan and South Korea are dreaming of the next round, China’s long march to the World Cup could soon be over after a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Costa Rica on their debut.
Defeat against mighty Brazil in China’s next match on Saturday will almost certainly spell elimination for Bora Milutinovic’s side beaten by two Costa Rica goals in four minutes at Kwangju.
Despite a 15,000-strong travelling army of supporters China were unable to make a winning start and worse still, suffered injuries to captain Fan Zhiyi and key defender Sun Jihai.
"I would have liked to start with a different result but it was not to be," said China coach Bora Milutinovic. "We played well but it wasn’t enough."
Hundreds of millions of fans watched the match in China as many offices and schools closed early and crowds were glued to televisions set up on the streets in a wave of patriotic fervor.
As the Asian teams got off the mark, Brazil were nervously sweating on whether playmaker Rivaldo is likely to be banned following a probe in Monday’s Group C game with Turkey.
At the end of the match Rivaldo collapsed on the floor clutching his face after Turkey defender Hakan Unsal kicked a ball against his legs.
Rivaldo later admitted he had faked his reaction in order to get Hakan sent off — and now FIFA have launched a formal hearing into the affair. Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari dismissed accusations that Rivaldo was a cheat.
"He was protecting his face from the ball," said Scolari. "Rivaldo made a defensive movement because the ball hit him in the leg and was travelling upward," he added. Wednesday sees Portugal take on the United States in Group D in Suwon, while Russia face Tunisia in Group H. Germany meanwhile play Ireland in Group E at the Sapporo Dome — the first match in the second series of games.
Rivaldo decision due today
Former World Player of the Year Rivaldo will learn today whether or not he will be punished for his exaggerated reaction to an incident in Brazil’s opening World Cup match against Turkey on Monday.
The World Cup disciplinary committee had been scheduled to study Rivaldo’s theatrics yesterday to see if the Brazilian was guilty of simulating a foul. Referees have been instructed to crack down on play-acting at the tournament.
But a spokesman at world governing body FIFA told Reuters yesterday a decision had now been delayed until today.
"The matter will be dealt with tomorrow," he said.
On Monday Turkey midfielder Hakan Unsal was sent off after kicking the ball at Rivaldo as he waited to take a corner in Ulsan, South Korea. Although the ball hit Rivaldo in the legs, he collapsed dramatically to the ground clutching his face in apparent agony.
Rivaldo, who had earlier converted the penalty which gave Brazil a 2-1 victory, was unrepentant.
