The Korea Herald

Korea goes local for WC qualifier against Kuwait

Feb 10, 2012

South Korea has gone decidedly local for a crucial World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait this month, hoping players from the top domestic league can keep the country alive.The team of 26, as announced by the Korea Football Association on Friday, features only three players from overseas ― forward Park Chu-young of Arsenal in England; midfielder Ki Sung-yueng from Scotland’s Celtic FC; and defensive back Lee Jung-soo of Al Sadd in Qatar. All other players are based in the domestic K-League.So
Ivory Coast into African Cup final against Zambia

Feb 9, 2012

Ivory Coast will play Zambia in the final of the African Cup of Nations after Gervinho’s goal on the stroke of halftime ensured the title favorite edged out Mali 1-0 on Wednesday. Ivorians watch their national soccer team play Mali, on an outdoor screen in the Anono neighborhood of Abidjan, Iv
World Cup workers threaten strike

Feb 8, 2012

SAO PAULO (AP) ― Workers building and renovating Brazil’s stadiums for the 2014 World Cup are threatening to go on strike if employers don’t agree to their demands for unified salaries and benefits.There have been isolated strikes across the nation, but unions representing the workers in each of the 12 host cities are trying to come together to plead for better conditions.Union leader Claudio da Silva Gomes said Tuesday the workers are ready to go on strike as early as next month if construction
Capello may have breached contract

Feb 7, 2012

LONDON (AP) ― Just like before the 2010 World Cup, a dispute revolving around John Terry is unsettling England’s preparations for a major tournament.But this time, rather than acting as a unifier, Fabio Capello has been accused of exacerbating tensions ahead of the European Championship.And as a result, the coach may have breached a lucrative contract worth about $9.5 million a year.Capello’s authority appears to have been undermined by his employers when Terry was fired as England captain on Fr
Man United rallies from 3 down

Feb 6, 2012

LONDON (AP) ― Javier Hernandez completed Manchester United’s comeback from a 3-0 deficit at Chelsea on Sunday with a late header that salvaged a 3-3 draw and leaves the defending champions two points off the Premier League lead.After storming to a 3-0 lead by the 50th minute, Chelsea collapsed at home by conceding two penalties that Wayne Rooney converted and then allowing Hernandez to tie it in the 84th.“It’s two points lost,” Rooney said. “We understand that, but after being 3-0 down ― the (Ma
S. Korea draws with Saudi Arabia in soccer qualifier

Feb 6, 2012

Kim Bo-kyung saved Korea’s U23 team from a shocking loss to Saudi Arabia, smashing a fierce volley to earn a 1-1 draw in the Asian qualifiers for the 2012 London Olympics on Sunday.Kim, who plays with Cerezo Osaka in Japan, scored the equalizer in the dying minutes of the game to earn a crucial point for the visiting side at Prince Stadium in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, having drawn one and lost two of its previous three matches, went into the match desperate to keep its hopes alive for
Korea draws 1-1 with Saudi Arabia in Olympic qualifier

Feb 6, 2012

Kim Bo-kyung scores equalizer in 90 min Kim Bo-kyung saved the Korea U23 team from a shocking loss to Saudi Arabia, smashing a fierce volley to earn a 1-1 draw in the Asian qualifiers for the 2012 London Olympics on Sunday.Kim, who plays with Cerezo Osaka in Japan, scored the equalizer in the dying minutes of the game to earn a crucial point for the visiting side at Prince Stadium in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.Saudi Arabia, having drawn one and lost two of their previous three matches, went into the m
Man City beats Fulham 3-0

Feb 5, 2012

LONDON (AP) ― Manchester City rediscovered its attacking game in the English Premier League on Saturday, beating Fulham 3-0 to maintain its perfect home record and keep Manchester United at arm’s length in the title race.City’s 12th straight league victory at Etihad Stadium left the leaders three points ahead of United, which visits fourth-place Chelsea on Sunday.The most resounding victory came at Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal rebounded from its miserable recent run in the league by hammering
Ruling unfavorable for Korea’s bid for soccer at London Olympic Games

Feb 2, 2012

South Korea’s bid for a berth in men’s football at the London Olympics took a twist on Thursday after a ruling on a group stage match between rival states.The Asian Football Confederation, the regional governing body of the sport, announced that Oman has been awarded a 3-0 victory over Qatar, overturning its 1-1 draw in a Group A match in the final Olympic qualification round last November.The AFC said FIFA, the global football association, ruled that Qatar fielded an ineligible player against O
Kim In-sung signs deal with CSKA

Feb 2, 2012

MOSCOW (AFP) ― Russiam Premier League side CSKA Moscow has signed South Korean midfielder Kim In-sung from Gangneung City football club on a one-year deal, the club’s press service reported.CSKA nabbed the 22-year-old for free as his present club, which plays in the Korean second division, has only semi-professional status. Reports also said that Kim’s contract offers an option of extending for two more years.Kim has already joined CSKA at its training camp in Marbella, Spain, alongside previous
Missed chance: Barca draws in Copa

Feb 2, 2012

VALENCIA, Spain (AP) ― Lionel Messi missed a penalty as Barcelona was held to a 1-1 draw at Valencia in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals on Wednesday.Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Alves dived to his left to stop Messi’s 56th-minute spot kick after Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara had been fouled inside the area.Valencia made a better start in the match and scored first when Jeremy Mathieu sent a pass between Barcelona defenders for Jonas to rifle the ball into the top corner in the
Over 70 killed in Egypt’s worst soccer violence ever

Feb 2, 2012

Celebration over unexpected victory turns into bloody melee; Cairo’s ability to manage crowds questioned At least 74 people were killed and hundreds injured after soccer fans rushed the field in the seaside city of Port Said Wednesday following an upset victory by the home team over Egypt’s top
Koo joins FC Augsburg

Feb 1, 2012

South Korean midfielder Koo Ja-cheol has switched clubs in the top German football league.Koo, formerly with VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, has joined FC Augsburg in the same circuit, Koo’s new team announced Tuesday.The 22-year-old midfielder will be with FC Augsburg until the end of the ongoing season in May, the team added. Koo went to the German league in January last year, leaving Jeju United in the domestic K-League to sign with VfL Wolfsburg.His stock soared earlier that month after lea
Man United wipes out City’s lead in Premier League

Feb 1, 2012

LONDON (AP) ― Manchester United wiped out Manchester City’s lead at the top of the Premier League on Tuesday with a 2-0 victory over Stoke as its neighbor went down 1-0 at Everton to a goal by a former United player.Darron Gibson, who left Old Trafford earlier in January, struck on the hour for Everton against City, which is now only top due to its superior goal difference over United.Defending champion United scored both goals from the penalty spot through Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov.
Cologne signs Jong Tae-se

Jan 31, 2012

COLOGNE, Germany (AP) ― Cologne says its has signed North Korea striker Jong Tae-se from second-division side Bochum.The Bundesliga club did not disclose how much it paid for the 27-year-old forward or the length of the contract.Jong, who is called Chong Te-se in Germany, will step in for the injured Lukas Podolski who was ruled out for at least three weeks with a foot injury.Podolski partially tore a tendon in his left foot during Saturday’s 4-1 league defeat at home to Schalke.Sporting directo