Goyang: South Korea paid tribute to World Cup hero Yoo Sang-chul as Paulo Bento’s side secured their place in the next phase of Asia’s qualifying tournament for the 2022 World Cup yesterday with a 5-0 win over Sri Lanka in Goyang.
The 10-time World Cup qualifiers moved three points clear of second-placed Lebanon at the top of Group H after the Lebanese slipped to a 3-2 defeat against Turkmenistan earlier in the day.
The results mean Lebanon would have to defeat the Koreans by a nine-goal margin on Sunday to overhaul them at the top of the standings and take an automatic berth in the next round.
South Korea’s 13-point haul, however, is still enough to guarantee them one of five places available in the next round assigned to the best runners-up across the eight groups.
That means the Koreans join Japan and Syria as the only nations to have booked their places in the 12-team third phase.
Kim Shin-wook put the Koreans in front after 15 minutes and led his team mates in a sombre on-field tribute to Yoo, one of the drivers of South Korea’s 2002 run to the World Cup semi-finals, who passed away on Monday aged 49 from cancer.
Lee Dong-gyeong doubled his side’s lead when he swept his 22nd minute effort into the top corner and Kim scored Korea’s third from the penalty spot two minutes before half-time. Hwang Hee-chan added a fourth in the 53rd minute and debutant Jeong Sang-bin completed the win 13 minutes from time with a close range finish.
