A goal four minutes from time meant Ireland's opening game in the United Arab Emirates Under 20 Tournament ended in defeat as Korea ran out 2-1 winners at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Liam Kearney had given Ireland a deserved lead after 29 minutes only for Korea to equalise on the stroke of half time and, despite dominating much of the second half, Ireland were unable to grab a second goal and paid for it in the dying minutes when Kim Dong Hun slotted home the winner.
On the balance of play, Ireland were the better side, but they failed to take their chances while Korea took theirs to go top of the table after one round of games.
Ireland started brightly stringing passes together easily and forcing Korea back deep into their own half and chances soon came with debut boy Eamon Zayed going close on a number of occasions.
In the 14th minutes, a magnificent ball down the left touch line by Darren Potter released the Bray Wanderers striker who, with the Korea defence back tracking, drove towards the penalty area before releasing a powerful shot which struck the outside of goalkeeper Kim Young Kwang's near post.
Zayed was close to putting Ireland in front once more three minutes later when a long ball over the top sent him through against the goalkeeper but Young Kwang was quickly off his line to smother his shot. It was the Bray man again after 24 minutes when a Kearney through ball just skipped away for him allowing the Korea defence to clear.
And Ireland's pressure got the award it deserved in the 29th minute after a fine ten-pass build up saw Ireland move the ball from left to write before Kearney released Stephen Brennan down the right wing with his cross ricocheting off Lim You Huan to Kearney to hammer home with his right foot.
In defence, Ireland were coping reasonably comfortably with Korea's attack with just playmaker and captain Choi Sung Kuk looking dangerous when he drifted in between Ireland's back four and midfield line, though they gave a warning of their prowess at set pieces when Sung Kok headed wide from a corner just after Kearney's goal.
A few minutes later, they threatened again when Lee Jong Min's right wing cross was missed by Sung Kok, but Jung Jo Gook turned quickly only to blast his shot inches wide of Wayne Henderson's right hand post.
Ireland then regained control of the game with Michael Foley and Stephen Elliott both trying their luck from the edge of the area but, on the stroke of half time, they suffered a killer blow when to Gook curled a free kick over the wall and past Henderson from 25 yards.
Ireland deserved to go in level and any fears that the goal would affect their confidence were quickly dis-spelled as they pushed forward with purpose. Zayed personal battle with Young Kwang continued when the goalkeeper, once again, raced off his line to thwart the striker after he was released by a Stephen Kelly lofted pass, while Kearney was only inches away from scoring his second in the 59th minute when his low 25-yard effort flew the wrong side of the post.
But Korea also threatened and Henderson needed to be at his best to push a Sung Kuk free kick away for a corner on the hour mark and were only inches away from scoring a few moments later when To Gook fired wide of a gaping goal after Henderson had made an initial save from Kim Dong Hun.
Largely however, the traffic was all one way, and Young Kwang was called into action once more after 64 minutes to thwart Zayed after Brennan and Elliott combined to create the opportunity.
Stephen Paisley also went close with a rasping volley after Foley's free kick had caused confusion in the penalty area while his defensive partner Stephen Kelly headed another set-piece narrowly wide and in the dying minutes, Korea grabbed the winning goal against the run of play.
There seemed little on when Lee Gil Hoon picked up the ball in the centre of the pitch but his throughball for Han Jae Woong sliced open the Ireland defence allowing the substitute to draw Henderson before playing the ball across the face of goal for Kim Dong Hun to tap home.
Brian Kerr responded by bringing on Keith Gilroy and Kevin Doyle, but time was the enemy and eventually it ran out much to the relief of the Koreans.
The team will now turn their attention to Wednesday's clash with the host nation before finishing the tournament against France on Friday.
Teams:
Republic of Ireland: Henderson (Aston Villa); Brennan (Newcastle United), Kelly (Tottenham Hotspur), Paisley (Manchester City), Capper (Sunderland); Kearney (Nottingham Forest), Ward (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Potter (Liverpool), Foley (Liverpool); Elliott (Manchester City), Zayed (Bray Wanderers).
Subs: Deane (Charlton Atheltic) for Kearney (74 mins), Keegan (Leeds United) for Foley (74 mins), Gilroy (Middlesbrough) for Ward (89 mins), Doyle (St Patrick's Athletic) for Zayed (89 mins).
Korea: Young Kwang; Sung Yoon, You Hwan, Chi Gon, Ju Sung; Dong Hwan, Jong Min, Young Chul, Sung Kuk; To Gook, Dong Hun.
Subs: Jae Woong for To Gook (76 mins), Gil Hoon for Sung Kuk (76 mins), Hyeung Bum for Young Chul (90 mins)
21/01/2003, 11:20 AM
Dodge
Congrats to Zayed for starting and for Kevin Doyle for coming on. Always good news for the league when our players play for Ireland
