YOKOHAMA, Japan, 15 June — Japan and South Korea sparked ecstatic celebrations throughout the co-host nations yesterday by making history and advancing to the World Cup’s knockout stages for the first time.
The Japanese opened a day of destiny at the first Asia World Cup with a 2-0 win over Tunisia in Osaka. As Japan exulted, South Korea defeated nine-man Portugal 1-0 before a frenzied crowd in Inchon.
No host country have ever been eliminated in the first round of a World Cup. The co-hosts’ achievements at this tournament, though, represent a unique triumph against a background of abysmal performances on the world’s biggest stage.
Japan lost each of their three matches on their World Cup debut in France four years ago while South Korea did not win a match at five previous tournaments.
Now they have both topped their respective groups and graduated to the second round in a tournament packed with incidents and upsets. Japan meet Turkey in the next round while South Korea play Italy.
The co-hosts’ successes also ensured that, for the first time, all five continental confederations — Europe, South America, North and Central America, Africa and Asia — are represented in the last 16.
In the day’s other matches, the United States also advanced to the second round despite losing 3-1 to Poland, who had already been eliminated. Belgium defeated Russia 3-2 to take the other second round place.
Blue-shirted fans adorned with the “Hinomaru” national flag and chanting “Ni-ppon, Ni-ppon, Ni-ppon” rocked the Nagai Stadium in Osaka. Even before the game had ended, a crowd of supporters gathered on a bridge over the Dotonbori River, where baseball fans traditionally leap into the water to celebrate a win.
Fireworks exploded in Inchon and the streets of Seoul reverberated as a quarter of a million people sang and chanted “Oh pilsung (victory) Korea”.
One million South Koreans had been expected to watch the match on giant television screens throughout the country.
South Korea’s Group D match was easily the most dramatic of the day. Portugal, one of the pre-tournament favorites, strove valiantly and could have snatched the draw which would have been enough to qualify following the US loss.
But after Argentine referee Angel Sanchez had dismissed key midfielder Joao Pinto and Beto Severo, they had a mountainous and eventually impossible task. World Player of the Year Luis Figo and the rest of the Portuguese team left the field in tears.
Park Ji-sung struck the Korean goal in the 71st minute, five minutes after the second red card.
“We are very, very disappointed,” said Portugal coach Antonio Oliveira. “We did not agree with the referee’s decisions but there’s no point going on about that now.”
Second half goals from Hiroaki Morishima and Hidetoshi Nakata pushed Japan to the top of Group H.
After a cautious opening half, Japan cut loose after the interval. Substitute Morishima scored with his first touch in the 48th minute and almost snatched another five minutes later when a header struck the post.
Man-of-the-Match Nakata headed the second from a cross from Daisuke Ichikawa, who had replaced Junichi Inamoto at halftime.
“I think we deserved to win,” said Japan’s French coach Philippe Troussier. “We have built up a momentum which has carried us forward from the first round, helped by the atmosphere from the home crowd.”
Belgium scored twice in the final 12 minutes to eliminate Russia in another match which started slowly but then exploded after the interval. Johan Walem scored the only goal of the first half, curling a free kick into the top corner of the Russian net from 25 meters in the seventh minute.
Vladimir Beschastnykh snatched the equalizer which would have been enough to put Russia through before substitute Wesley Sonck and captain Marc Wilmots replied for Belgium. Eighteen-year-old substitute Dmitry Sychev scored a late goal for Russia.
Authorities in Moscow prevented the riots which followed last Sunday’s 1-0 to Japan by cordoning off the area near the Kremlin where the match was being shown on a giant television screen.
Russia coach Oleg Romantsev, who said eight days ago he would quit if Russia failed to make the second round, told Russian reporters he had decided to step down.
US captain Claudio Reyna conceded his side had been lucky to advance after a 3-1 thrashing by Poland in Taejon. The Americans squeezed through as a result of the Korean victory.
Emmanuel Olisadebe, Pawel Kryszalowicz, Marcin Zewlakow scored for Poland with Landon Donovan, who had an earlier goal disallowed, replying for the United States.
“We’re lucky,” Reyna said. “We owe Korea a little bit of thanks. In the past we’ve been unlucky some times and I think overall we need to get through.”
