One of the advantages of competing on home soil is having the support of partisan fans in the stands. The biggest of athletes thrive in the most pressure-packed moments, and they are able to feed off the energy of the spectators, rather than wilt under the burden of expectations.South Korean men's football captain Kim Young-gwon, on the other hand, had difficulty playing before a massive crowd Thursday at Seoul World Cup Stadium in the World Cup qualifier against Iran. And he had some practical

Having squandered a chance to qualify for the World Cup at home, South Korea now face a near must-win situation on the road next week.South Korea could have clinched their ninth consecutive World Cup berth with a win over Iran on Thursday at Seoul World Cup Stadium. But they settled for a scoreless draw against the 10-man opponents, and their fate will be determined next Tuesday against Uzbekistan in Tashkent. It'll be the final qualifying match for both nations.In the ongoing final Asian qualif

A red-colored football fever heated up the country's largest football-only stadium Thursday as more than 60,000 South Korean fans decked out in red national team jerseys packed the venue to see their team's crucial World Cup qualifier against Iran. The Korea Football Association said 63,124 fans were in attendance in South Korea's showdown against Iran in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup that started at 9 p.m. at Seoul World Cup Stadium. This was the ninth largest cro

South Korea blew a chance to qualify for the FIFA World Cup after getting held to an undermanned Iran at home on Thursday.South Korea failed to get past 10-man Iran in their World Cup qualifier at Seoul World Cup Stadium, and their hopes of securing their ninth consecutive trip to football's showpiece event remain up in the air with one match remaining in the final Asian qualifying round.South Korea are still in second place in Group A, thanks to Uzbekistan's 1-0 loss to China also on Thursday.S

A fourth baseball club admitted to giving money to an umpire in a rapidly-snowballing scandal on Thursday.The Nexen Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization issued an apology, saying one of its former executives wired 3 million won ($2,670) to the then umpire surnamed Choi on Nov. 22, 2013, after Choi had contacted him for cash."We'll accept any punishment that comes our way," the Seoul-based club said. "We'll cooperate with any future investigation by prosecutors."Financial transactions of any

South Korean tennis player Chung Hyeon has been eliminated in the second round at the US Open.　Chung, world No. 47, fell to the 15th-ranked American John Isner in straight sets at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on Wednesday (local time). Isner dominated Chung in winning the match 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 in one hour and 45 minutes.　 In this EPA photo, Chung Hyeon of South Korea hits a return to John Isner of the United States during their second round men`s singles match at the US Open

Los Angeles Dodgers' starter Ryu Hyun-jin suffered his first loss in the second half after getting torched by the Arizona Diamondbacks.The South Korean left-hander allowed a season-high six earned runs on eight hits, including three home runs, in four innings against the D-Backs at Chase Field in Phoenix on Wednesday (local time).With the Dodgers down 6-0 in the top fifth, Ryu was lifted for pinch hitter Adrian Gonzalez. The Dodgers lost 6-4 as their late rally came up short.Ryu dropped to 5-7 a

A South Korean baseball club on Wednesday admitted to paying an umpire only a day before winning a league title four years ago.The Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization said a senior club employee wired 4 million won ($3,560) to the then umpire, surnamed Choi, in October 2013, after Choi had contacted the employee for some quick cash. The employee has since left the Lions, and Choi retired in 2014.Financial transactions of any kind between umpires and club employees are strictly prohi

PAJU -- South Korea will have to be aware of their players getting yellow cards in the World Cup qualifying match against Iran this week, as some of their core members are just one caution away from suspension.Five South Korean players -- Kim Shin-wook, Ki Sung-yueng, Jang Hyun-soo, Choi Chul-soon and Kim Young-gwon -- are all carrying a yellow card heading into their crucial showdown against Iran at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday. If they receive another caution during the match against Ir

PAJU -- Iran football coach Carlos Queiroz said Wednesday his side will try to collect a victory against South Korea in order to maintain their undefeated and clean sheet record in the World Cup qualifying campaign.Iran and South Korea will go head-to-head at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday. Both teams are in Group A in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.Queiroz said the match against South Korea is a great learning opportunity for Iran, but that doesn't mean his si

PAJU -- South Korea football coach Shin Tae-yong said Wednesday his side will prevail against Iran in the upcoming World Cup qualifier since their opponents will not have much information on the new national team after a coaching change. South Korea, ranked No. 49 in the world, will face No. 24 Iran at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul 9 p.m. Thursday. Both teams are in Group A in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Shin, who took over the helm last month after Uli Stiel

A South Korean baseball club owner has been questioned in connection with a money scandal involving a retired umpire, a source said Wednesday. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office recently summoned Lee Chang-suk, the owner and former CEO of the Nexen Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization, to investigate his connection with a former umpire surnamed Choi, who had allegedly contacted multiple team officials for quick cash, according to the source.Also on Wednesday, prosecutors said th

Pittsburgh Pirates' third baseman Kang Jung-ho, his big league career in limbo following a drunk driving conviction, has signed with a Dominican Republic club.Aguilas Cibaenas, which competes in the Dominican Winter League, announced their signing of Kang on their Twitter page on Wednesday.The winter league season usually starts in late October and Dominican natives, prospects in search of playing time and major league veterans rehabbing from injuries often play there.Kang hasn't dressed for the

FC Barcelona's South Korean prospect Lee Seung-woo will move to the Italian side Hellas Verona FC, a source close to the player said Wednesday. The source said Lee decided to join the Serie A outfit on a four-year deal and will complete his medical later Wednesday. Italian media reported that Verona agreed to pay Barca a transfer fee of 1.5 million euros (US$1.79 million), while the Catalans retain a buy-back option on the South Korean for two years. If the transfer is completed, Lee will be the

Iran's national football team head coach Carlos Queiroz said Tuesday his side is not afraid of playing the World Cup qualifier this week at a stadium packed with South Korean fans.Iran and South Korea will go head-to-head at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday. Both teams are in Group A in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.The Korea Football Association earlier said it expects some 60,000 fans at the 66,704-seat stadium, and they will boost the energy for South Korean