Switzerland 2 - 0 Korea Republic

Home » Match Reports » Switzerland / Korea Republic
rss feed for news items | England News

Friday Jun 23 2006 08:00

Switzerland will play Ukraine in the first knockout stage of the World Cup finals on Monday in Cologne after beating South Korea 2-0 in a lively Group G encounter.

The Hanover defeat means Dick Advocaat's side, that reached the semi-finals on home soil four years ago, will be going home early after finishing third in the group.

It was a fair result as South Korea looked busy but too often there was no end product to their lively approach work.

After a cagey opening, Tranquillo Barnetta raced clear for Switzerland in the 11th minute but was too slow as Jin-Chul Choi got back to close him down.

However, it came as no surprise when the Swiss took the lead midway through the first half - Hakan Yakin's free-kick being headed home powerfully by Philippe Senderos.

It was brave effort by Senderos as he and Jin-Cheol Choi clashed heads a split second after the defender met the ball, and both players needed treatment before returning to the fray.Alexander Frei wasted several chances for Switzerland before South Korea enjoyed a purple patch just before the break. Jin-Kyu Kim shot over the bar from close range, Chu-Young Park fired a left-footed shot wide and Chun-Soo Lee tried his luck from distance only for Pascal Zuberbuhler to deny him with a fine save.

South Korea ran out of steam after the interval though and Switzerland wrapped up the game with a controversial goal in the 77th minute.

The linesman raised his flag for offside, then put it down as Frei went on to round the keeper and slot the ball into an empty net.

The referee appeared to over-rule his linesman as the ball came off a South Korea player on the way through to Frei but Advocaat's side were livid and a flurry of yellow cards were shown as they contested the decision.

There was still time for Frei to head another good chance over the bar but it was a good night for the Swiss - they have kept three clean sheets in their three group games and must now fancy their chances of reaching the quarter-finals.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    FULL TIME: SWITZERLAND 2-0 SOUTH KOREA.
  • 90
    It's a third clean sheet for Switzerland and they'll play Ukraine in Cologne on Monday - South Korea are going home.
  • 90
    Djourou is booked for trippiing Jae-Jin Cho.
  • 88
    The Swiss make their final change - Valon Behrami replaces Wicky.
  • 87
    The wasteful Frei heads another effort over the bar - he could have had a hat-trick tonight.
  • 85
    It appears the referee over-ruled his linesman for the second Switzerland goal as the ball came off a South Korea player on the way through to Frei.
  • 84
    Jin-Kyu Kim's shots clips the top of the bar, South Korea have had no luck.
  • 82
    An eighth yellow card is shown - this one is for Christoph Spycher.
  • 80
    Replays suggest the linesman was correct when he raised his flag, Frei looked offside. No wonder South Korea are fuming.
  • 78
    South Korea are livid and both Jin-Cheol Choi and Chun-Soo Lee are booked for their protests.
  • 77
    SWITZERLAND 2-0 SOUTH KOREA. Drama as the linesman raises his flag for offside, then puts it down as FREI plays on, rounds the keeper and slots the ball into an empty net.
  • 76
    Advocaat is having a moan on the sidelines, he knows the game is up now.
  • 74
    Frei waits too long as he tries to get a shot on goal, Chun-Soo Lee gets back to take the ball off his toe.
  • 72
    Frei wins a corner - South Korea appear to have run out of steam.
  • 71
    Switzerland bring on Xavier Margairaz for Yakin - who has been outstanding.
  • 69
    Raphael Wicky is booked for a high challenge on Chun-Soo Lee.
  • 68
    The 2002 semi-finalists look as though they're going out.
  • 66
    Another change by South Korea - Ki-Hyeon Seol for Chu-Young Park.
  • 66
    Switzerland are enjoying a spell of pressure and look the more likely team to score.
  • 65
    Better by Frei who slams a shot against the post with a rasping drive.
  • 63
    Advocaat brings on Ahn Jung-Hwan for Young-Pyo Lee.
  • 62
    South Korea need a goal, and quickly, if they're to have any chance of remaining in the tournament.
  • 61
    South Korea have lost their way as France score a second goal against Togo.
  • 60
    Barnetta's cross is good but Frei is on his heels and can't get to the ball - the Rennes striker is having a nightmare.
  • 58
    Frei wastes another good chance - dragging his shot woefully wide.
  • 57
    France have scored against Togo - as it stands South Korea are going out.
  • 55
    Yakin is booked for handball.
  • 54
    South Korea think Patrick Muller handled the ball in the area, but the referee disagrees and waves play on.
  • 53
    Senderos is replaced by Johan Djourou.
  • 52
    Senderos is off the pitch again with what looks like an arm injury.
  • 51
    France are still being held by Togo - as it stands Switzerland will play Ukraine in the last 16 while South Korea will be teamed up with Spain.
  • 49
    South Korea are pressing for an equaliser as Chun-Soo Lee goes on another rampaging run down the right wing.
  • 47
    Ho Lee rifles a shot wide - a bright start to the second period by Advocaat's side though.
  • 46
    South Korea get the second half underway - no changes at the break.
  • 45
    HALF TIME: SWITZERLAND 1-0 SOUTH KOREA.
  • 45
    An unmarked Frei glances a header wide - he should really have scored.
  • 45
    Chun-Soo Lee tries his luck from distance but Zuberbuhler makes a fine save - South Korea have been transformed in the last five minutes.
  • 45
    Chu-Young Park fires a left-footed shot wide as South Korea enjoy a purple patch just before the break.
  • 43
    Senderos is booked for chopping down Jae-Jin Cho and also needs more treatment for his bloody nose.
  • 43
    Jin-Kyu Kim fires over the bar from close range after some dreadful goalkeeping by Zuberbuhler.
  • 42
    Chun-Soo Lee's mis-hit effort is easily saved by Zuberbuhler but South Korea are finishing the half strongly.
  • 40
    Yakin's fierce shot flies just wide after some more sloppy South Korea defending.
  • 38
    Another Yakin free-kick - this time Woon-Jae Lee struggles to punch it away for a corner.
  • 37
    Jin-Kyu Kim is booked after clattering into Cabanas.
  • 36
    Jae-Jin Cho looks dazed after a bad fall but is able to continue.
  • 34
    Yakin's free-kicks are causing South Korea all sorts of problems - this time Woon-Jae Lee is able to grab the ball just before Raphael Wicky
  • 32
    It's still goalless in Cologne which is good news for Dick Advocaat's side.
  • 30
    Ji-Sung Park heads wide as South Korea try to respond.
  • 28
    Senderos and Jin-Cheol Choi finally return to the action - the South Korea man wearing a fetching hair-net.
  • 26
    Frei scoops a shot high and wide after some nervy South Korea defending.
  • 24
    Senderos and Jin-Cheol Choi are off the pitch for treatment after a clash of heads a split second after the Arsenal defender scored.
  • 23
    SWITZERLAND 1-0 SOUTH KOREA. Hakan Yakin's free-kick is perfect for PHILIPPE SENDEROS who powers a header home.
  • 23
    Chu-Young Park hauls Barnetta back and is booked for his troubles.
  • 22
    Tricky play by Ricardo Cabanas until he's required to cross - it's a poor one and South Korea survive.
  • 21
    Barnetta looks lively down the right for Switzerland.
  • 19
    Switzerland still have the edge but it's all very tight.
  • 17
    Frei tries to lob Woon-Jae Lee but the 33-year-old keeper gets back to save the effort.
  • 16
    South Korea look busy but too often there's no end product to their lively approach work.
  • 14
    France are still drawing with Togo so as it stands these two teams will qualify for the last 16.
  • 12
    That was a great chance for the Bayer Leverkusen man - by far the best opportunity of the opening stages.
  • 11
    Tranquillo Barnetta races clear but is too slow as he fails to get a shot on target before Jin-Chul Choi closes him down.
  • 10
    Pascal Zuberbuhler makes heavy weather of saving Ji-Sung Park's raking drive.
  • 9
    Woon-Jae races off his line to take the ball off Alexander Frei's toes.
  • 8
    It's been a cagey opening with Switzerland just edging it so far.
  • 6
    South Korea have looked hard-working but limited in their first two games - Switzerland aren't much better but deserve to reach the last 16 at least.
  • 4
    That was an early warning for the Swiss - Lee Chun-Soo was in acres of space on the left.
  • 3
    Lee Chun-Soo beats the offside trap but no-one can latch on to his intelligent cross.
  • 2
    The winners of tonight's game will play Ukraine in the last 16, the losers could be going home.
  • 1
    Switzerland get this crucial match underway.
  • 0
    South Korea also make two changes - Jin-Kyu Kim and Chu-Young Park replacing Yung-Chul Kim and Eul-Yong Lee.
  • 0
    Christoph Spycher and Hakan Yakin start for Switzerland in place of Ludovic Magnin and Daniel Gygax.
  • 0
    Both teams have four points going into the final group game, two ahead of France who are playing Togo in Cologne.
  • 0
    A place in the last 16 is up for grabs as Switzerland take on South Korea in Hanover.

Statistics

Switzerland
Shots on target 5
Shots off target 6
Shots off bar/post 1
Fouls 8
Offsides 3
Corners 8

Korea Republic
Shots on target 8
Shots off target 7
Shots off bar/post 1
Fouls 20
Offsides 3
Corners 6

See Live Commentary