Football
ESPN staff 9y

Qatar-based striker Cho fires South Korea to Asian Cup victory

South Korea opened their 2015 AFC Asian Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Oman in a Group A game on a rainy afternoon in Canberra.

Qatar-based striker Cho Young-cheol scored on the stroke of halftime to give Uli Stielike's side a winning start as they try to win the continental championship for the first time in 55 years.

Captained by Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-yeung, the Koreans dominated possession but had to work hard to break down the Omanis. The victory takes South Korea to second in Group A behind host nation Australia on goal difference.

The Socceroos defeated Kuwait 4-1 in Melbourne in Friday night's tournament opener.

Along with Premier League star Ki, Bayer Leverkusen's Son Heung-min was South Korea's danger man. His shot hit the top of the crossbar in the seventh minute.

The Koreans suffered an early injury setback when fullback Kim Chang-soo limped off after 19 minutes to be replaced by former Bundesliga star Cha Du-ri.

Shortly before South Korea took the lead, Omani skipper Ali Al Habsi was forced to make a spectacular save after a long throw into the box almost led to an own goal.

Cho struck in first half injury time to capitalise on a period of sustained pressure to give the Koreans a well-deserved advantage at the break. Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Al Habsi could only parry a Koo Ja-cheol shot and Cho poked the rebound home.

They went close to doubling their lead on 57 minutes when Park Joo-ho's cross found the head of Koo Ja-cheol. But Al Habsi made a brilliant, point-blank save.

Only desperate defending in the second half prevented South Korea from making it a more convincing victory.

But Paul Le Guen's Oman did have a couple of good chances of their own in second half injury time as the rain began to fall in the second half. 

South Korea's next match is on Tuesday against Kuwait in Canberra. Oman will travel to Sydney to face Australia on the same day.

The top two teams from Group A will advance to the knockout stages of this 16th edition of the Asian Cup.

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