Australia 1 - 1 Korea Republic
The Thani Bin Jassim Stadium in Doha on Friday 14th January saw Australia take on Korea Republic in their second match of Group C in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
Both teams, looking to build on their winning starts to the tournament, went close in the early stages; Harry Kewell half-volleying over the bar after just six minutes. Tim Cahill then had a strong penalty appeal turned down after he was brought down in the box by Cha Du-Ri on the 15 minute mark.
The game sparked into life in the 24th minute when Dong-Won Ji got in behind the Australian defence and squared the ball to Ja-Cheol Koo who blasted the ball home for his third goal of the tournament.
Harry Kewell was the most consistent goal threat for the Socceroos and he saw a free-kick whistle harmlessly over the crossbar after half-an-hour. Soon after, Tim Cahill was denied at the back-post by a last-ditch interception from Korea’s Cha Du-Ri.
After the half-time interval, the game continued to be played at a high pace by two sides both pushing for victory. Korea Republic, though, looked dangerous on the break and Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung saw his stinging shot beaten away by Mark Schwarzer on the hour mark.
Australia grabbed an equalising goal on the 62nd minute; Goalkeeper Sung-Ryong Jung failed to deal with Lucas Neill’s dinked cross into the box and Mile Jedinak was on hand to head the ball into an unguarded net. It was a goal which their play deserved and both sides pressed for a winner until the final whistle.
Neither side could find the elusive second goal and the game ended 1-1. Both sides reamin unbeaten in Group C; Australia’s final match is against Bahrain whilst Korea Republic take on India on 18th January.