World Cup - South Korea 1 United States 1

South Korea came from a goal down to level in Daegu and stay in contention for a second stage place.

But the US will be happier with this result and their performance. They were tidy if unspectacular and will fancy their ability to get a result against Poland to progress past the group stage but the Koreans may have to at least draw against Portugal in their last game.

Korea looked to have run out of ideas before substitute Ahn Jong-hwan headed in a simple free kick planted high onto the penalty spot and Ahn was way ahead of his marker to net the ball.

The Korean players celebrated by imitating a short-track speed skater’s style after their compatriot was barred from collecting a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in favour of the US athlete.

Choi Yong-soo almost won the game in the last minute but hit a shot way over the bar from close range and a cross from thele took goalkeeper Brad Friedel out of the game.

Friedel was in toop form though and did not deserve to be on the losing side.

Friedel first made a real impact with a penalty save before half time.

Centre back Jeff Agoos was penalised quite harshly by Swiss referee Urs Meier for a push on Hwang Sun-hong as a cross came in on 41 minutes.

Substitute Lee Chun-soo had only been on the field for two minutes after replacing an injured Yoo Sang-chul and he confidently took the ball and placed it on the spot.

But midfielder Lee Eul-yong pulled rank and banished Lee to take the penalty himself.

His kick was a nice height and struck to Friedel’s right but the goalkeeper made a fine save and Eddie Pope soared forward to tackle Kim Nam-il and ensure the rebound was not struck on target.

In the 24th minute Clint Mathis had given the US a lead that Friedel was doing a great job protecting.

A clipped ball forward from DaMarcus Beasley found Mathis edging ahead of his marker and he controlled the ball and struck a low drive wide of goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae to dent the confidence of the home fans who saw their side fail to repeat the fast tempo that decimated Poland in their opening game.

Mathis showed the mark of a real finisher as he took his chance and has two offers to move to the Bundesliga for next season.

Korea had early chances.

Seol Ki-Hyeon skied a cross at the far post after a ball was sent in from the right wing to find him unmarked to strike the Park Ji-sung cross and then Kim forced Friedel to catch a chip under his cross bar in the 9th minute.

Seol made Friedel save a 19th minute shot in the 21st minute and the US goalkeeper was in brilliant form on 47 minutes.

Seol was clear to let a long ball forward bounce in front of him and he struck it from wide on the right of the penalty area and Friedel saved well with one hand.

No side other than Brazil at the finals have managed to put two good games together so far but the US were more convincing than Korea as they tried to match the World Cup favourites. In the end neither side could.

Korea lacked the speed of thought and movement they showed against the Poles and the US were keen to hunt down a first for them. Bruce Arena’s side was trying to be the first US team to win back-to-back games out side of America and they came close.