Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Seoul: Head coach Hong Myong-bo apologised to the Korea Republic fans after the 2002 World Cup semi-finalists slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Tunisia in the Taguek Warriors' final Brazil 2014 tune-up match on home soil.
Midfielder Zouhaier Dhaouadi scored the only goal of the game to hand Tunisia their first win under new coach Georges Leekens, who had a brief spell coaching Saudi giants Al Hilal in 2009.
After expressing his regret to the fans that had packed the Seoul World Cup Stadium in the hope of seeing Korea Republic head for Brazil on the back of a morale-boosting win, Hong told reporters that it was imperative that his team learns from the mistakes that they made in Wednesday's defeat to the North Africans.
"I think this match will teach us a big lesson," said Hong, who played for Korea at four FIFA World Cups.
"We gave away too much space in the middle and the back and that allowed the Tunisian forwards to play freely.
"Unless we can fix that we will continue to have a difficult time."
Hong will be hoping the Koreans can find their scoring touch in their next friendly, which is against fellow 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers Ghana in Miami on June 9.
Photo: AFP