Korea to take on Gabon for chance ...to advance in soccer

LONDON (Yonhap News) ― The South Korean men’s soccer team will face an undermanned Gabon side this week for a chance to reach the quarterfinals at the London Olympics.

The African nation will be without starting defender Henri Endong, who was ejected on two yellow cards against Mexico on Sunday. He has been automatically suspended for his next contest.

Players who receive two yellow cards, whether in the same game or over two consecutive matches, are ineligible for the ensuing match.

Mexico sits at the top of Group B with four points. South Korea also has four points, but trails Mexico on goal difference.

Switzerland is in third and Mexico is in fourth.

The top two teams from each of the four groups will make up the quarterfinals. South Korea defeated Switzerland 2-1 Sunday, and can advance to the quarters with a draw against Gabon Wednesday.

Gabon entered the London Games already shorthanded, having failed to fill up all 18 spots for the Olympic roster to injuries and professional clubs’ refusal to release some players.

Following Gabon’s 2-0 loss to Mexico Sunday, Gabon head coach Claude Mbourounot said it’s been “very difficult” to play the first two group matches shorthanded.

South Korea has two players each with a yellow from the Switzerland contest. In the chippy match, forward Park Chu-young, one of the goal scorers in the game, and midfielder Park Jong-woo each got a yellow.

The South Korea-Gabon match will be Wednesday at Wembley Stadium in London.