South Korea 2 Nigeria 2

Ten man World Cup co-hosts South Korea came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Nigeria in a Taejon friendly.

After the cancellation of Champions League and UEFA Cup ties over the last two days the international fixture list returned to activity after the terrorist attacks in the US with the first of two meetings between the two 2002 World Cup finalists.

And Nigeria took early command of the game as John Utake went on an angled run that carried him past four defenders before he crossed low for Kelechi Okoye to finish from close range. Nigeria were without all of their European-based stars for the trip which continues at the weekend with a game in Pusan but they extended their lead in the 39th minute when Chukwu Ndukwe went clear of the defence to put Okoye through on goal. Earlier a similar move had seen South Korea lose defender Kim Sang-Sik to a red card for a foul on Chukwu as he ran in on goal.

That was as good as it got for the West Africans whose lazy and disinterested display in the second half allowed Guus Hiddink's team right back into the low-key friendly.

The home team could even afford a 48th minute penalty miss when substiutute Choi Yong-Soo struck his spot kick wide but another substitute, Lee Chun-Soo, finished from close range in the 66th minute and Choi headed in a corner thirteen minutes later to equalise.