channel4.com - Football Italia


	World Cup Second Round – 18/6/02
	South Korea 2-1 Italy (aet)
	Vieri 18, Seol 88, Ahn 117
	Daejeon (Korea)

Italy are out of the World Cup after Perugia’s Ahn Jung-Hwan scored a golden goal in a shock victory. The Azzurri were just three minutes away from winning the tie before the co-hosts netted a late equaliser as the Italians paid the ultimate price for their defensive tactics. Although South Korea were playing in front of their own fans, Italy started the game as favourites. But the tie didn’t get off to the best of starts after the referee awarded Korea a penalty after a shirt pull by Panucci on a Korean in the box. However, Perugia’s Ahn Jung-Hwan failed to give his side the lead when Gianluigi Buffon pulled off an outstanding save by diving to his right. The first attacking glimpse of Italy came in the 10th minute but Vieri’s cross come shot cleared the bar despite Del Piero converging on goal. But Italy took the lead in the 18th minute through Christian Vieri. A corner from Totti was beautifully flighted and Vieri stole in at the near post to powerfully put the Azzurri in the lead. It was Ahn who was proving to be a danger man for Korea but his shot on 36 minutes and the stroke of half time didn’t really trouble Buffon. Italy were keen to defend their lead and invited the Koreans to attack them after the break. It looked to be a decent tactic as the Asian side rarely threatened. It was Italy that had a number of chances to finish them off but Vieri missed three good openings in the space of six minutes. They were mistakes that would cost Italy as the Koreans sneaked a late equaliser. Seol played a one two and he got onto the end of it after a mistake by Panucci to draw things level. Vieri did have one final chance in normal time but he unbelievably missed the target from a matter of yards after Tommasi had played a wonderful ball across the face of the box. It went to extra-time and Korea nearly got the golden goal in the 12th minute as Hwang went close with a free-kick. Buffon did excellently to keep it out. But it was events two minutes later that gave this incredible game a new twist when Totti was sent off. He was booked – his second of the game - for allegedly diving even though TV replays shows that could be adjudged to have been harsh. With 10 minutes of extra time left Tommasi had a goal disallowed for offside before Gattuso missed a wonderful opportunity to send them through. But it was South Korea that got the golden goal as Ahn made up for his penalty miss to header in the winner.

South Korea: Lee Woon-Jae; Choi Jin-Cheul, Hong Myung-Bo (Cha 83), Kim Tae-Young (Hwang 63); Song Chong-Gug, Kim Nam-Il (Lee SC 68), Yoo Sang-Chul, Yong-Pong Lee, Park; Ahn, Seol Ki-Hyeon Italy: Buffon; Coco, Maldini, Iuliano, Panucci; Zambrotta (Di Livio 72), Tommasi, Zanetti; Totti; Del Piero (Gattuso 61), Vieri Ref: Moreno (Ecu) Missed penalty: Ahn 4 Sent off: Totti 102

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