Kuala Lumpur: On this day, 22nd June, 15 years ago, Korea Republic made history by topping Spain on penalties to reach the 2002 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, an upset that sent waves through the world of football. Asian teams had only once before reached the last eight – some 36 years ago – let alone the final four.
Korea Republic’s quarter-final victory was unquestionably one of the biggest underdog victories achieved by an Asian team. Here are five more times that the continent shocked the world that also bear celebrating.
1. Miracle at Ayresome Park
DPR Korea 1-0 Italy – July 19 1966
In their decisive group stage tie at the 1966 FIFA World Cup, debutants DPR Korea were supposed to have no chance against two-time World Cup winners Italy. But in the end, it was the Chollima who conjured up one of the greatest upsets in football history.
Pak Doo-ik netted the game’s only goal to dump the Italians out of the competition to the acclaim of the crowd at Ayresome Park as they wrote their names into Asian and World Cup history.
The North Koreans earned the affection of the Middlesbrough crowd to such an extent that 3,000 fans were reported to have travelled to the quarter-final in Liverpool, although a four-goal salvo from Eusebio saw Portugal come out on top of a 5-3 score line. It mattered little; a heroes’ reception at Pyongyang had already been assured.
2. Saeed Al Owairan lights up USA ‘94
Saudi Arabia 1-0 Belgium – June 29 1994
It wasn’t strictly speaking a team that stunned the world on June 29, 1994 so much as one man. Saeed Al Owairan’s fabulous solo goal at Saudi Arabia’s maiden FIFA World Cup stands the test of time as one of the greatest.
After losing to the Netherlands and beating Morocco in their opening two group games in the USA, the Green Falcons needed an unlikely result against an on-form Belgium team that had won two from two.
Enter Al Owairan.
The midfielder picked up the ball on five minutes with no apparent danger for the Belgians. Raw pace and power followed as Al Owairan ran three-quarters of the length of the pitch, before finishing with aplomb to score one of the most memorable goals in World Cup history as Saudi Arabia advanced to the knockout stage with a 1-0 win.
3. Déjà vu for Italy; Ecstasy for Korea
Korea Republic 2-1 Italy – June 18 2002
The co-hosts had enjoyed a successful 2002 FIFA World Cup group stage but they were about to face the greatest obstacle so far. It was the Round of 16, and the Taeguk Warriors were set to meet heavyweights Italy.
The Azzurri boasted an attack with Christian Vieri and Alessandro Del Piero in their prime, ahead of the likes of Paolo Maldini and a certain Gianluigi Buffon at the back. Ahn Jung-hwan’s early missed penalty did not bode well and sure enough Vieri put Italy ahead. But somehow Korea recovered at the death as Seol Ki-hyeon levelled in the 88th minute.
And, remarkably, even better was to come in extra-time.
A penalty shoot-out loomed, but on the 117th minute Ahn beat Maldini to Lee Young-pyo’s cross and headed home an improbable winner. Italy were eliminated. Korea lived to fight another day. A reported three million fans celebrated in the streets of Seoul.
4. “China’s Proudest Day”
China 1-0 France – June 4 2010
Reported by the Chinese press as one of the “proudest days” for the national team since they qualified for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, China’s 1-0 defeat of former World Champions France on June 4, 2010 made world media sit up and take notice.
Les Bleus were admittedly out-of-form going into the game at Reunion Island, and would go on to perform abjectly in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but nothing should be taken away from a China team that was then ranked 84th in the world and facing a star-filled side that included the likes of Thierry Henry, Frank Ribery and Nicolas Anelka.
The winner, too, came in sublime fashion in the 68th minute as Deng Zhuoxiang floated the ball into the back of the net from a free-kick from 30 metres out to stun the France team and cheer a nation of billions.
5. The Nadeshiko lift a nation
Japan 2-2 USA (Japan win 3-1 pens) – July 17 2011
The story of the Japan women’s national football team at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup reads like a plot written in Hollywood. A national tragedy in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami preceded the tournament by four months, but for three weeks that summer the Nadeshiko helped bring hope back to the land of the Rising Sun.
At the culmination of the 32-match tournament, in true sports cinema fashion, underdogs Japan faced the number one seeded United States in Frankfurt. Japan had failed to beat their opponents in 25 previous matches, drawing three and losing the rest.
But in front of near 50,000 spectators and, despite twice going behind, the Nadeshiko would claw their way back each time before going on to triumph in a penalty shootout to scenes of unprecedented and cathartic joy back home.
Photos: Getty Images & AFP
Source: the-afc.com