An early goal from Korea’s Koo Ja Cheol and a brace from Ji Dong Won within a span of 11 minutes in the first half left Uzbekistan reeling 3-0 down although the Uzbeks gave some occasional scare to Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung Ryong.[break]
The swift attacks of the Koreans made it look like the Uzbeks had to face a heavy defeat again after their semifinal drubbing from Australia during which they conceded six goals. But Alexander Geynrikh pulled one just before the break from the spot.
Uzbekistan made a remarkable comeback in the second half with Geynrikh scoring the second goal for Uzbekistan before one hour but the Koreans held on to win the match and secure an automatic place at the 2015 tournament to be held in Australia.
Koo scored early in the 17th minute beating Uzbek goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov after receiving a pass from Lee Yong-Rae.
Ji scored the second for Korea in the 28th minute.
A quick exchange of passes between Lee Young-Pyo, Ki Sung-Yueng, Lee Chung-Yong and Koo culminated in Ji receiving the ball inside the penalty area which he rattled into the bottom-left corner sending Nesterov in the wrong direction .
Ji claimed his second, through a header from a Hong Jeong-Ho’s cross that left Nesterov diving in the air in vain.
Geynrikh converted a penalty in the 45th minute and added another in the 53rd in a sole effort to salvage some pride.
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