Advocaat praises calm of South Koreans

FRANKFURT, June 13 (Reuters) South Korea coach Dick Advocaat said his players never panicked despite trailing to a first-half goal in their 2-1 Group G win over Togo.

''To be fair, the players were very calm at halftime even though they were behind,'' the Dutchman told reporters.

''In the second half we took some risks and it was a success. It is so important to win your first game because it normally means you stay in the tournament for the second round.'' Mohamed Kader Coubadja put the west Africans in front after 31 minutes. Taking a pass neatly on his thigh, he sped into the right side of the penalty area, steadied himself, then fired a low shot into the corner of the net.

Debutants Togo had captain Jean Paul Yaovi Abalo Dosseh sent off for bringing down Park Ji-sung in the 53rd minute and Korea took advantage of their extra man with goals from Lee Chun-soo a minute later and by substitute Ahn Jung-hwan in the 72nd.

Togo coach Otto Pfister said his side paid the price for not putting away their chances.

''My team gave a good performance,'' said the German. ''The Koreans had three or four chances, we had four or five. When you don't score you lose.

''Early in the game there was little difference between the teams. When you get a red card, then it becomes hard.

''Overall we played a good match in a 10 v 11 situation.'' Togo's preparations for their first World Cup had bordered on the soap opera, with globetrotting coach Pfister quitting on Friday after a squad pay row before making a U-turn yesterday.

REUTERS

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