Innsbruck (Austria), June 8 (IANS) World Cup-bound South Korea had plenty of possession and chances in an international friendly against Bolivia here, but the contest ended 0-0.
Bolivia, who failed to qualify for the World Cup, spent almost the entire first half of Thursday’s match penned-up in their own side of the field by South Korea’s high-tempo attack, reports EFE news agency.
While Bolivian goalkeeper Carlos Lampe was peppered with shots, counterpart Kim Seung-gyu found himself with little to do.
The South Americans were a bit more ambitious in the second half and disrupted the Koreans’ pace.
But the Asian side regained the momentum with the entry at the hour mark of their best player, Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min, who put Lampe to the test yet again.
The Koreans withstood a spell of aggressive physical play by the Bolivians and remained in control to the end.
South Korea, who are drawn in the World Cup with Sweden, Mexico, and defending champions Germany, came into Thursday’s match having lost successive friendlies against Bosnia Herzegovina and Poland.
Their final World Cup tune-up is set for Sunday against Senegal.
–IANS
ajb/vm
