Plenty of credit to go around despite loss in final

SYDNEY (Yonhap) ― From a virtual unknown on offense to unsung heroes on defense, there’s plenty of credit to go around for South Korea, even after its extra-time loss to Australia in the final at the AFC Asian Cup.

Forward Lee Jeong-hyeop scripted an improbable Cinderella story. With no prior international experience, the 23-year-old came out of nowhere to score two key goals at the tournament. Coach Uli Stielike famously unearthed Lee after watching him come off the bench for the military club, Sangju Sangmu, in five matches, saying he still liked Lee’s energy in a reserve role.

Lee was easily the most unknown commodity for South Korea. At the other end of the spectrum was Son Heung-min, the pacy winger for Bayer Leverkusen and perhaps the most gifted South Korean player in the tournament.

Son missed a group match with flu but came back with a vengeance in the quarterfinals against Uzbekistan, lifting his team to a 2-0 win. Then with South Korea trailing 1-0 in the final moments of regulation against Austraalia, Son scored the dramatic equalizer to send the match to extra time. He, like the rest of his team, ran out of gas in the final half-hour.

Kim Jin-su, also a Bundesliga player with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and a good friend of Son’s, was an unsung hero on defense.

Even as South Korea extended its clean sheet streak, skeptics attributed the success more to luck than to the team’s defensive acumen. Though Stielike tinkered with his defense in search of a right combination, Kim remained one constant.

In fact, he was the only South Korean to play every minute of the tournament. The tireless player did excellent work on both ends, relying on his speed and offensive instincts on attack, and his smart positioning on defense.

In the last line of defense, Kim Jin-hyeon emerged as a dependable No. 1 goalkeeper. He had only four caps prior to the Asian Cup, and yet Stielike was unwavering in his belief that the 27-year-old could hold his ground in net. Save for the one group match he missed with flu, Kim stopped everything that came his way before letting in two goals in the final.

Kim Jin-hyeon said afterward he was able to “grow up” as a football player thanks to his competition with the two teammates.

“I had those guys behind me and cheering me throughout the tournament, and I was determined to do well for them,” Kim said.

“The competition is not yet over because my career didn’t end with the Asian Cup. I am going to have to keep improving.”

The oldest member of the team, fullback Cha Du-ri, had a swan song to remember. The 34-year-old, who’d earlier said he would retire from international play after the Asian Cup, didn’t just tag along for the ride. Cha competed with the energy and exuberance of someone a dozen years younger, and by the semifinals, he became a rallying point for the whole team, with young players publicly saying they wanted to send Cha off with the Asian Cup title.

En route to the final, Cha set up two South Korean goals in memorable plays that quickly became Internet sensation. Against Kuwait in group stage, Cha sped down the right flank, past multiple defenders, and sent a perfect cross for Nam Tae-hee, who headed in the winner in South Korea’s 1-0 win.

Then facing Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals, Cha again channeled his inner speedster in extra time, blazing down the right wing and turning opponents into human pylons, before finding unmarked Son Heung-min near the penalty area for South Korea’s second goal.

Cha couldn’t quite go out on top on Saturday but his dynamic performance served as an inspiration for a team whose average age was just under 26.

After the match, Cha reiterated that he won’t come back to play for South Korea again, saying he was proud to have competed with such a driven group of teammates.

“Tonight, I was happy to see the players’ determination for the championship and we all felt proud to wear the national flag,” said Cha, who’s leaving with 75 caps. “I think I am taking away something more valuable than the title.”