The Korea Herald

Quest begins for Asian Cup

Dec 26, 2014

The South Korean men’s national football team will begin its quest for the elusive AFC Asian Cup title on Saturday, with an eclectic mix of veterans and neophytes hoping to end the country’s long drought at the top continental competition.The 2015 Asian Cup will kick off Jan. 9 in Australia. According to the Korea Football Association, South Korea, coached by former German international Uli Stielike, will leave for Sydney on Saturday and set up its base camp there.Stielike unveiled South Korea’s
Bad news for Balotelli as Liverpool alters system

Dec 26, 2014

MANCHESTER, England (AP) ― There is a very different feel to Christmas Day at Liverpool this season. Twelve months ago, Liverpool was top of the Premier League ― always a significant milestone in the English game ― and playing the most exciting brand of football in the country. With striker Luis Suarez pouring in goals and Brendan Rodgers being hailed for his managerial qualities, the club was gearing up for its first genuine title challenge for years. There is little to celebrate this Christmas
Nat'l football to begin quest for elusive Asian Cup on Saturday

Dec 26, 2014

The South Korean men's national football team will begin its quest for the elusive AFC Asian Cup title on Saturday, with an eclectic mix of veterans and neophytes hoping to end the country's long drought at the top continental competition. The 2015 Asian Cup will kick off Jan. 9 in Australia. According to the Korea Football Association (KFA), South Korea, coached by former German international Uli Stielike, will leave for Sydney on Saturday and set up its base camp there. Stielike unveiled S
Son named top player

Dec 23, 2014

Bayer Leverkusen winger Son Heung-min on Tuesday was named the top South Korean male soccer player of 2014.Son earned the annual Korea Football Association honors for the second straight year. The 22-year-old dynamo has netted 11 goals in 26 matches so far this season in the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal Cup and the UEFA Champions League. Son Heung-min (left) and Ji So-yun pose with their Player of the Year awards in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap)With the Bundesliga in its midseason break, Son is well
Chelsea beats Stoke 2-0

Dec 23, 2014

LONDON (AP) ― John Terry got away from American Geoff Cameron to score his first league goal since December 2013, helping Chelsea win 2-0 at Stoke on Monday night to restore a three-point lead atop the Premier League.Terry outjumped Cameron 95 seconds in to score with a header off Cesc Fabregas’ corner kick, giving Terry goals in 15 consecutive Premier League seasons. Fabregas doubled the lead in the 78th when he scored from 8 meters off a pass from Eden Hazard.Chelsea could have had another goa
Club owner drops penalty appeal over officiating

Dec 23, 2014

Lee Jae-myung, owner of the South Korean football club Seongnam FC recently disciplined for his public criticism of officiating, said Tuesday he has withdrawn his appeal against an earlier penalty, a surprise announcement that came only hours before the national pro football body was to hold a meeting to review his punishment.Earlier this month, Lee received a “warning,” the most lenient penalty meted out by the K League, after he complained about the quality of officiating in the first division
Leverkusen's Son Heung-min named top S. Korean footballer for 2nd year

Dec 23, 2014

Bayer Leverkusen winger Son Heung-min on Tuesday was named the top South Korean male football player of 2014.Son earned the annual Korea Football Association (KFA) honors for the second straight year. The 22-year-old dynamo has netted 11 goals in 26 matches so far this season in the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal Cup and the UEFA Champions League. With the Bundesliga in its midseason break, Son is well on his way to shattering his career-best mark of 12 goals set last season.Thanks in no small part t
Football club owner drops penalty appeal over officiating criticism

Dec 23, 2014

Lee Jae-myung, owner of the South Korean football club Seongnam FC recently disciplined for his public criticism of officiating, said Tuesday he has withdrawn his appeal against an earlier penalty, a surprise announcement that came only hours before the national pro football body was to hold a meeting to review his punishment.Earlier this month, Lee received a "warning," the most lenient penalty meted out by the K League, after he complained about the quality of officiating in the first division
Lee shocked by selection

Dec 22, 2014

When the South Korean men’s team for the AFC Asian Cup tournament was unveiled on Monday, Lee Jeong-hyeop, a virtually unknown forward, was easily the biggest surprise.Hours after the announcement, the 23-year-old player for the domestic military club Sangju Sangmu said he was taken aback by the news himself.“I am going to do my best to fulfill my responsibility,” Lee said.Head coach Uli Stielike chose the unproven Lee, who has yet to play in an international match, in favor of veteran forward P
Asian Cup glory in sight

Dec 22, 2014

There were few surprises as South Korea on Monday announced its 23-man roster for the AFC Asian Cup, the continent’s largest soccer tournament scheduled to kick off next month in Australia.Head coach Uli Stielike, who once said he could make some picks that could catch people off guard, instead took the safer route, assigning some familiar faces the task of ending South Korea’s 55-year drought at the Asian Cup.There will be 16 nations at the Asian Cup, divided into four groups of four. South Kor
Liverpool draws with Arsenal

Dec 22, 2014

LONDON (AP) ― Liverpool is starting to produce the kind of fluid attacking that led to a second-place finish in the English Premier League last season. Now the Reds need a striker to finish their chances.Liverpool outplayed Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday, yet needed a goal deep into stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw. Arsenal is four points behind in qualifying for the Champions League. Liverpool is nine points from the top four with almost half the season gone.The rest of Europe’s leagues are cl
Surprise pick for Asian Cup football tourney shocked at his own selection

Dec 22, 2014

When the South Korean men's football team for the AFC Asian Cup tournament was unveiled on Monday, Lee Jeong-hyeop, a virtually unknown forward, was easily the biggest surprise.Hours after the announcement, the 23-year-old player for the domestic military club Sangju Sangmu said he was taken aback by the news himself."I am going to do my best to fulfill my responsibility," Lee said.Head coach Uli Stielike chose the unproven Lee, who has yet to play in an international match, in favor of veteran
Injuries, inconsistency cost World Cup members spots on Asian Cup squad

Dec 22, 2014

Injuries and inconsistent performances have proven costly for veterans of the South Korean World Cup squad, as they were left off the 23-man roster for the AFC Asian Cup announced on Monday.Head coach Uli Stielike unveiled the squad for the Jan. 9-31 continental tournament at a press conference. Of the 23, 12 players had also represented the country at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in June, when the country stumbled to a draw and two losses for a quick exit.Stielike made a surprise selection on o
Few surprises as S. Korea announces roster for Asian Cup football tourney

Dec 22, 2014

There were few surprises as South Korea on Monday announced its 23-man roster for the AFC Asian Cup, the continent's largest football tournament scheduled to kick off next month in Australia.Head coach Uli Stielike, who once said he could make some picks that could catch people off guard, instead took the safer route, assigning some familiar faces the task of ending South Korea's 55-year drought at the Asian Cup.There will be 16 nations at the Asian Cup, divided into four groups of four. South K
Real Madrid win Club World Cup

Dec 21, 2014

MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) ― Real Madrid outclassed San Lorenzo of Argentina 2-0 in the Club World Cup final on Saturday to put a crown on its status as the best club in world football.The cup added to Madrid’s 2014 trophy haul of Champions League, Copa del Rey, and European Super Cup, and it will carry a 22-game winning streak into 2015.Sergio Ramos made the breakthrough, leaping up and heading in Toni Kroos’ sweetly stuck corner after 37 minutes. Ramos also got Madrid off the mark in its 4-0 vict