Korea beats UAE 2-0 in World Cup football qualification

DUBAI (Yonhap News) -- South Korea edged the United Arab Emirates (UAE) 2-0 here Friday in the third round of the regional qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

At Al Rashid Stadium, substitute Lee Keun-ho scored just two minutes from regulation, and captain Park Chu-young added a second in the dying moments of the game to seal the win.

The two teams otherwise traded few serious scoring chances for the majority of the game. South Korea didn't get its first shot on net until 61 minutes into the match. After a tedious first half, the visiting side picked up pace in the second half but didn't find the back of the opposing net until Lee's goal.

As midfielder Lee Yong-rae drove hard on the left wing in the 88th, Lee Keun-ho charged toward the net, speeding past defenders to receive the perfect setup and calmly rolling it in for the winner.

Son Heung-min, another second-half sub, set up Park's insurance. The Arsenal forward has now scored in his fifth straight international match.

With the victory, South Korea remained at the top of Group B with 10 points, on three wins and a draw. It is paired with the UAE, Kuwait and Lebanon in the group. Kuwait entered Friday's other Group B contest against Lebanon with five points.

South Korea next travels to Beirut to face Lebanon on Tuesday.

There are five groups of four teams in the ongoing third round. Teams play each other twice until early next year, and the top two teams from each of the groups will reach the fourth and the final round.

South Korea can book a spot in the next round with at least a draw against Lebanon next week. In September, South Korea blanked Lebanon 6-0 at home to kick off the third round.

After the Lebanon match, South Korea's next contest is in February against Kuwait.

In their previous showdown in South Korea last month, South Korea beat the UAE 2-1.

South Korea is missing midfielder Ki Sung-yueng for this Middle East road trip. The Celtic midfielder in the Scottish Premier League has been suffering from a stomach virus and has missed nearly two weeks of action.

South Korea is seeking its eighth straight World Cup appearance and ninth overall. Group A includes Jordan, Iraq, China and Singapore. Group C nations are Japan, Uzbekistan, North Korea and Tajikistan. Group D features Australia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Oman. Group E includes Iran, Qatar, Bahrain and Indonesia.