South Korea one win away from breaking Asian Cup hoodoo

South Korea one win away from breaking Asian Cup hoodoo
By Euronews
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Welcome back to The Corner, our weekly programme that brings you the latest news from the world of football. We begin this episode the first

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Welcome back to The Corner, our weekly programme that brings you the latest news from the world of football.

We begin this episode the first semi-final of the Asian Cup.

As South Korea head to the tournament final for the first time in 27 years, Iraq head to the exit door and home.

Although it’s been 27 years since a final appearance for South Korea – the East Asian nation have failed to lift the trophy since 1960.

They put themselves one win away from breaking their Asian Cup hoodoo with a 2-0 victory over semi-final opponents Iraq in Sydney.

Lee Jeong-hyeop headed the Taegeuk Warriors into the lead on 20 minutes.

Defender Kim Young-gwon then fired in the second five minutes after the restart.

South Korea’s two goals went unanswered as they booked their ticket to the final with a fifth clean sheet from five matches in Australia.

Standing in the way of South Korea’s run to a third title will be either hosts Australia or United Arab Emirates, who contest the second semi on Tuesday.

Up and Down

This week, in our ‘‘Up & Down’‘ segment two players lose their cool on the pitch and two teams suffer a knock to their pride after losing in the English FA Cup.

It’s all down this week.

Cristiano Ronaldo briefly thought he was competing in the World Combat Games during Real Madrid’s La Liga tie with Cordoba.

The Portugal international was sent off for a disgraceful altercation with defender Edimar whom he kicked and slapped.

That earned ‘Ronny’ his ninth career red.

AC Milan’s Philippe Mexes fared no better than Ronaldo in controlling his anger or sanity.

The veteran French defender was shown a red card after a clash and throat grab on Stefano Mauri. Before leaving for an early shower a furious Mexes tried to headbutt and then choke the Lazio captain again.

Chelsea are down and quite literally out of the FA Cup.

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In what should have been a routine outing at home the English Premier League leaders let slip a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 to League One outfit Bradford City.

It is now considered the biggest FA Cup shock of all time.

It was not just Chelsea on the receiving end of a surprise FA Cup defeat.

Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City were brushed aside 2-0 in the fourth round by underdogs and Championship side Middlesbrough.

On This Day

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While in Equatorial Guinea the group stage of the 2015 African Cup of Nations goes on, let’s revisit the ’92 final, when 24 penalties were taken before a winner emerged.

On 26 January 1992, every player on the pitch at the end of extra time in the African Cup of Nations Final got to take a penalty kick as Côte d’Ivoire beat Ghana, 0-0 (11-10).

In the last match of the competition, the day’s best chance fell to Ghana, as striker Tony Yeboah chipped the ball over keeper Alain Gouaméné and into the path of Ghana midfielder Prince Polley Opoku, but Opoku sent his shot over the bar.

The match remained scoreless through extra time, setting up the penalty shootout.

There, the balls flowed into the goal until Ghana’s Isaac Asare missed his shot. But Côte d’Ivoire’s Joël Tiéhi did the same with the next attempt. The teams went through twelve kickers each, with the last shot taken by Ghana defender Anthony Beffoe.

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He drove the ball into the waiting hands of Gouaméné to end the match at 0-0 (11-10).

We Might Be Wrong

Manchester City and Chelsea have also made our “We Might Be Wrong” segment this week with their top of the table clash in England next weekend. We also have a crack at predicting two other selected matches. Send us your predictions using #TheCornerScores.

Chelsea 1-1 Manchester City
Wolfsburg 0-2 Bayern Munich
Barcelona 3-1 Villareal

Bloopers

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In a previous edition we saw Lionel Messi control a ball after kicking it 18 metres in the air. Well if you think that was impressive check out the skills possessed by this youngster. Check out clip above for bloopers.

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