 |
| Australian Mark Milligan, who scored the equaliser against DPR Korea on Wednesday. |
PYONGYANG: Australia booked their spot in next year’s Men’s Olympic Football Tournament after a controversial second-half equaliser earned them a 1-1 draw against DPR Korea in Pyongyang on Wednesday.
Dominated in the opening half and trailing to Pak Chol-min’s 10th minute strike, the Olyroos got back on level terms 20 minutes from time when skipper Mark Milligan looped a header into the net although it appeared to strike the hand of Adrian Leijer before crossing the line.
Syrian referee Muhsen Basma allowed the goal to stand despite Korean protests as Australia hung on for the precious point that ensured that they would finish ahead of second-placed Iraq in Group A of the AFC Final Round for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Australia coach Graham Arnold had expressed concerns prior to the game about the chilly conditions in Pyongyang and his team were caught cold as the home side started strongly on the artificial surface of the Kim Il Sung Stadium.
Pak Chol-min fired the first warning shot in the ninth minute when he received a pass from Jong Chol-min on the edge of the Australian box and shot just over the crossbar.
But the Australians failed to heed the danger and fell behind a minute later. Milligan failed to deal with a long ball from the back which flew over his head and bounced up nicely for Pak, who deftly chipped it over the head of goalkeeper Daniel Vukovic from 15 metres.
It was the first goal conceded by the Australians in the final round after five consecutive clean sheets but they very nearly conceded a second four minute later.
Another long ball caught out the Australian once again, forcing Vukovic to charge out of his box and head the ball clear as Jong Chol-min attempted to gain possession. The ball fell to Kim Kuk-jin, who drilled it back towards goal only for Leijer to get back in time to clear it off the line.
Pak Chol-min continued to be a thorn in the side of the Australian defence and nearly netted a second in the 19th minute when he snapped up a half-clearance and volleyed the ball just over the crossbar.
Kim Kuk-jin then dragged a shot wide with the goal at his mercy, while Yun Yong-il tested Vukovic with a swerving shot that forced the Australian goalkeeper to go down low to his left.
The Australians could have got back on level terms in the 35th minute after a mistake by Pak Song-chol presented the ball to Mark Bridge. He played it through to James Troisi whose sharp drive was well saved by goalkeeper Ri Myong-guk with Pak redeeming himself by hacking the ball clear before Bridge could turn in the rebound.
After their strong performance in the first half, the Koreans appeared happy to sit on their lead after the break with their players going down for treatment at the slightest hint of contact.
The visitors were able to grab the initiative and Nikolai Topor-Stanley went close to an equaliser in the 66th minute, heading over from close range.
But the Olyroos got the goal that they needed on 70 minutes in controversial circumstances. A Kristian Sarkies free-kick was met in the six-yard box by Milligan whose header looped past Ri Myong-guk, appearing to strike the hand of Leijer as it went into the net off the left upright.
With the exhausted Koreans unable to muster up any more serious threats on the Australian goal and the visitors content to keep the ball in the corners in the final 20 minutes, the game petered out to a draw, ensuring that the Australians will play in the Olympics for a sixth consecutive time next year.
|
