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South Korea Win Hard Fought 2-1 Against Togo

DW staff (sms)June 13, 2006

The African nation took a surprise lead against the 2002 quarter-finalists South Korea, but couldn't hold on after loosing a man in the second half and lost their World Cup premier on Tuesday.

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Togo's Mohamed Kader, center, scored his team's first ever World Cup goalImage: AP

Togo's trainer Otto Pfister put an end to the team's coaching roller coaster by coming back after walking out on Friday, but the German's presence on the bench wasn't enough to keep Togo from giving up two second-half goals.

Mohamed Kader opened scoring in the 31st minute with a charge into the penalty area put his shot low into the corner of the net, and Togo were able to defend their lead through the break, giving a shock to the South Koran team and silencing the red-and-white-clad fans in FIFA World Cup Stadium Frankfurt.

WM 2006 - Spieler - Lee Chun Soo
Lee Chun Soo's goal was the first step in South Korea's winImage: AP

After retaking the field, South Korea improved their level of play and took advantage of a red card given to Togo captain Jean-Paul Abalo Dosseh's for a from-behind foul and South Korean striker Lee Chun-Soo hammered the resulting free kick into the upper corner.

The South Korean offence increased the pressure after scoring the equalizer but didn't capitalize. Togo also weren't willing to hold back in spite of being down a man to a more skillful South Korean side.

Striker Ahn Jung-Hwan, who came off the bench at the beginning of the second half, became the South Korean hero of the day scoring the game winner in the 72nd minute with a dipping shot of his right foot that flew past goalkeeper Kossi Agassa.

Togo's loss means all four African debutants at the World Cup have been defeated in their opening matches.