Golden boy Ahn does it again for South Korea

Talismanic striker Ahn Jung-Hwan came off the bench to score the winner for South Korea in their come-from-behind 2-1 victory over 10-man Togo in their Group G World Cup opener on Tuesday.

South Korean forward Jung Hwan Ahn (R) jubilates with a teammate after scoring a second goal for his team during the FIFA World Cup 2006 group G football match Korea vs Togo, 13 June 2006 at Frankfurt stadium. AFP PHOTO / MICHAEL URBAN

Ahn, a hero in South Korea for his vital goals in the 2002 World Cup when they reached the last four, scored with a dipping shot in the 72nd minute.

Mohamed Kader had given Togo a surprise first-half lead but the dismissal of captain Jean-Paul Abalo early in the second half and the equaliser from Lee Chun-Soo gave them a moutain to climb.

Coach Dick Advocaat's line-up included seven players who competed in the 2002 World Cup when South Korea strode to the semi-finals, although he left Ahn on the bench.

Togo had their first real sight on goal after 10 minutes when indecision in the South Korean defence allowed Kader a shooting opportunity but his effort sailed over the bar.

Togo stunned the Koreans by taking the lead in the 31st minute. Kader took a long ball on his knee, darted between two flat-footed Korean defenders and shot low into the net.

Togo nearly increased their lead in the 41st minute, a wickedly swinging free kick from Yao Junior Senaya being brilliantly palmed over by Korean 'keeper Lee Won-Jae.

Advocaat gambled at the start of the second half by putting on striker Ahn in place of central defender Kim Jin-Kyu. Togo nearly capitalised on the short-handed defence, the tricky Kader finding room for a shot which Lee blocked.

South Korea's forward Chun Soo Lee (R) celebrates with his teammates Lin Cheul Choi (L) and Young Chul Kim (C) after scoring the 1-1 equalizer against Togo during the FIFA World Cup 2006 group G football match Korea vs Togo, 13 June 2006 at the stadium in Frankfurt/M. AFP PHOTO / DDP / THOMAS LOHNES

Togolese forward Mohamed Kader (R) scores an opening goal past Togolese defender Dare Nibombe during the FIFA World Cup 2006 group G football match Korea vs Togo, 13 June 2006 at Frankfurt stadium. AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTO

Togo were hit with a double blow when they were reduced to 10 men and conceded a goal in the 54th minute.

Skipper Abalo was sent off after receiving a second yellow for a foul on the rampaging Park and Lee Chun-Soo sent the resulting free-kick into the top corner of the net.

Togo refused to go into a defensive shell and Moustapha Salifou clipped the ball just over in the 64th minute after great work by Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

Ahn, who made the whole of Italy cry with his golden goal winner in the second round in 2002, took Korea back to the future with a goal in the 72nd minute. He picked up the ball, glided across the penalty box and unleashed a dipping right-foot shot past goalkeeper Kossi Agassa.