North Korea 1-1 Australia: Socceroos face battle to qualify for East Asian Cup

The draw means the Socceroos have to find their shooting boots or hope results go their way, after another unspectacular performance in East Asian Cup qualifying

Australia suffered a setback in their bid to reach the East Asian Cup after being pegged back to a 1-1 draw by North Korea in qualifying on Wednesday.

Archie Thompson joined John Kosmina and Atilla Abonyi in equal fourth on the all-time Socceroos scorer’s list with his 25th international goal against the group leaders in another largely unconvincing performance in Hong Kong from Holger Osieck’s side.

Yong-Hak An found a deserved equalised on 64 minutes when he hooked home a crisp volley after Australia failed to deal with a set piece.

Tom Rogic was introduced in the second half to spark an ailing midfield as Australia pushed for a winner, but the Socceroos lacked impetus for too much of the match.

A late penalty appeal for a foul on substitute Adam Taggart following some delightful play down the left from Rogic and a Matt McKay header was as close as Australia would come to a second goal.

Just two days after seeing off the tournament hosts 1-0 on a woeful Mong Kok Stadium pitch, the Socceroos lacked sharpness but went ahead after just four minutes through Melbourne Victory front man Thompson.

The veteran had earned a corner when his header was parried behind and reacted quickest to prod home the rebound from close range after team-mate Mark Milligan clattered his header from the resulting corner off the post.

Aside from the inclusion of goalkeeper Mat Ryan for Eugene Galekovic, Osieck stuck with an unchanged side for the match, knowing his side needed the win over their main rivals to avoid a likely goal difference showdown.
North Korea remain top of the table with seven points from three games but have a far better goal difference than Australia, who have four points from two matches. Only the top nation will qualify for the tournament in South Korea in July, 2013.

A slick tempo saw both sides stroke the ball around confidently in the early stages of the match.

But after Thompson stunned Yun Jong-Su’s side, it was all North Korea for the better part of half an hour, with Park Nam-Chol finding the grateful arms of Ryan from a header at the back post.

The Socceroos shot-stopper was again well positioned to deal with Jong Il-Gwan’s strike after another teasing cross, while at the other end Osieck’s side were reduced to hopeful long balls and little fluid possession in the final third.

North Korea continued to probe but wasted a free kick in a dangerous position and were nearly caught in possession on the half-way line after being forced back.

Australia’s goal scorer against Hong Kong, Brett Emerton, found Thompson, whose acrobatic header could only find the side netting on 30 minutes.

Ryan was almost left red faced moments later as he finger-tipped a cross-cum-shot just over the bar.

Australia came out with renewed vigour after the break but it was Nam-Chol who went closest to scoring for North Korea, with Ryan down smartly to deny him in the 53rd minute.

Sporting head gear for a fractured jaw, McKay went through on goal moments later but the angle was too great to screw his shot on target.

North Korea finally broke through from a set piece on 64 minutes and it was no less than they deserved after some enterprising play.

Captain Ri Kwang-Chon first saw his shot deflected but Yong-Hak was on hand in an otherwise crowded box to turn his volley into the net from close range.

It was too little, too late from Australia, who really only looked to take the game to North Korea once parity was restored.

Rogic offered plenty of drive and turned in a beautiful cross for fellow substitute Taggart, who stood paralysed in the box with an open net gaping.

A defender lashed the ball clear and despite sweeping Taggart’s legs from underneath him, the referee was having none of the penalty appeals.
http://www.goal.com/en-au/match/98043/korea-dpr-vs-australia/report