The Korea Herald

Ji Dong-won scores injury-time winner for Sunderland

Jan 2, 2012

South Korean striker Ji Dong-won started 2012 brilliantly by scoring a stoppage-time winner for Sunderland in a 1-0 win over the English Premier League leader Manchester City on Sunday.The 21-year-old found the back of the net in the 93rd minute with the last kick of the game, barely 10 seconds left in injury time, to excite more than 40,000 home fans.The Korean striker, who came on as a substitute in the 78th minute, latched onto Stephane Sessegnon’s pass and rounded goalkeeper Joe Hart, before
City feeling pressure at top of Premier League

Dec 29, 2011

LONDON (AP) ― After seeing its Premier League lead wiped out by archrival Manchester United, Manchester City’s title credentials face a severe test when it plays revitalized Sunderland and then Liverpool in a three-day span to kick off a hectic month for the big-spending northern club.City still tops the standings as it goes in search of a first English title since 1968, but has squandered a five-point advantage in the space of a month to lead the reigning champions only on goal difference.The p
Celtic surge to top of league table

Dec 29, 2011

Joe Ledley the toast of Parkhead after his 52nd minute goalGLASGOW (AP) ― Celtic supplanted Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League on Wednesday, defeating its Glasgow rival 1-0 to complete a dramatic turnaround in fortunes in the battle for the title.Wales midfielder Joe Ledley grabbed the winner at Celtic Park, meeting a corner with an emphatic header at the far post in the 52nd minute to secure Celtic’s ninth straight league victory.Less than two months ago, Neil Lennon’s side was
Lee: Park Ji-sung’s return to the national team possible

Dec 28, 2011

The country’s best known footballer Park Ji-sung is in the news for the right reason. He is scoring in the English Premier League and has again proven his worth for Manchester United, the world’s top football club. And fans are now calling on the versatile player to make a return to the much troubled national team. The 30-year-old midfielder retired from international football following Korea’s third-place finish at the Asian Cup in January. But a veteran football figure has recently suggested t
Spurs retain title hopes

Dec 28, 2011

LONDON (AP) ― Tottenham established itself as the likeliest challenger to the dominance of the Manchester clubs in the Premier League this season, beating Norwich 2-0 on Tuesday to tighten its grip on third place.A classy second-half double by winger Gareth Bale lifted Spurs to within seven points of City and United, with the London club still holding a game in hand ― at home to Everton next month.With fifth-place Arsenal drawing 1-1 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers to join fading title hopefu
Asian soccer strengthens

Dec 28, 2011

Match-fixing, related suicides, corruption and other assorted controversies could not prevent 2011 from being overall a good year for Asian football, as the continent’s prominence in the global game continued to grow.The previous year ended with Qatar shocking the world by being awarded the 2022 World Cup and just a few days into 2011 the tiny nation was once again on center stage as it hosted the Asian Cup.Although most matches were played in half-empty stadiums, the football was of a relativel
Lee Young-pyo criticizes coaching revolving door

Dec 27, 2011

Veteran football star Lee Young-pyo on Tuesday criticized football officials for lacking patience with national team coaches, offering his two cents on the controversial coaching change earlier this month.“There may be some misunderstanding and discord when you’re working for Korean football, but it’s all part of the process,” Lee told reporters. “Changing coaches too frequently is something we should all think hard about.”Lee was addressing the local press for the first time since he signed wit
Devilish rout

Dec 27, 2011

Berbatov nets 3; Park Ji-sung opens scoringLONDON (AP) ― Manchester United flourished as Manchester City floundered on Monday to wipe out its neighbor’s lead in the Premier League title race.City’s was left clinging to top spot on goal difference after its expensively assembled attacking unit failed to score in the league for the first time this season in a 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion.Injury-hit United took full advantage, with Dimitar Berbatov’s hat trick powering the champions to a second
Man City’s Mancini issues festive warning

Dec 26, 2011

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has warned his Premier League leaders that they cannot afford to offer unexpected gifts on their travels over the festive season.City starts its final game of 2011 at West Bromwich Albion on Monday two points clear of nearest rivals Manchester United and on course for its first top-flight title in 44 years.But Alex Ferguson’s reigning champions will end the calendar year at the summit if they follow up victory over struggling Wigan on Monday with another t
Fired football coach alleges outside pressure on player selection

Dec 26, 2011

The recently fired head coach of the national football team on Monday claimed to have come under pressure from senior officials in his player selection, an allegation promptly rejected by a high-ranking football executive.(Yonhap News)Cho Kwang-rae, dismissed earlier this month, said three senior of
United outshines City with 5-0 bashing of Fulham

Dec 22, 2011

LONDON (AP) ― Manchester United managed the rare feat this season of outshining Manchester City’s goal-scoring prowess on Wednesday to keep the heat on its neighbor in the Premier League title race.While City maintained its two-point lead over United with a 3-0 victory over Stoke, its second-place rivals routed Fulham 5-0 at Craven Cottage.Such emphatic victories have been the norm for big-spending City this season, but for United it was the biggest in three months.“It was very impressive, we’ve
Choi says will lead national soccer team till June 2013

Dec 22, 2011

Another year and another manager for South Korean football: The baton has now passed from Cho Kwang-rae to another local manager, Choi Kang-hee. But the newly appointed manager said Thursday that he is taking the helm of the national team only “temporarily.”“My contract will be until June 2013, and I want to go back to my club,” Choi said.The announcement came just two weeks after the football governing body fired former manager Cho.Speaking at a news conference at the Korean Football Associatio
Liverpool’s star gets 8-match ban for racist remark

Dec 21, 2011

LONDON (AP) ― Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was banned for eight matches and fined $62,000 on Tuesday after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United’s black defender Patrice Evra.An English Football Association panel accepted Evra’s allegation that Suarez had directed a racial insult at him during United’s Premier League match at Liverpool on Oct. 15.“The insulting words used by Mr. Suarez included a reference to Mr. Evra’s colour,” the FA said in a statement, adding that the Liv
Beckham deal with PSG not yet done

Dec 21, 2011

LONDON (AP) ― David Beckham’s management company says reports the former England captain has agreed a deal to join Paris Saint-Germain are “premature.”The 36-year-old former England captain has been in talks with the French capital club, but could still accept an offer to stay at the Los Angeles Galaxy where his five-year deal ended after winning his first MLS Cup last month. “No agreement has been reached with any club yet ― talks of a deal are premature,” Beckham’s management company, XIX Ente
Choi Kang-hee named head coach of national soccer team

Dec 21, 2011

Choi Kang-hee of Jeonbuk Motors has been confirmed as the new Korean national team manager. Following a meeting of its technical committee, the Korea Football Association announced on Wednesday that the 52-year-old would lead the national team for the Asian qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.The announcement came just two weeks after the football governing body fired former manager Cho Kwang-rae, citing his inability to control the team. Cho first came under fire following Korea’s humiliating 3-0