YOKOHAMA, Japan, 11 December 2003 — South Korea won the East Asian Championship after a 0-0 draw with bitter rivals Japan yesterday.
The visitors took the title by virtue of having scored more goals than the hosts after both teams had beaten China and Hong Kong in the inaugural tournament.
Japan had been reduced to 10 men after 18 minutes when striker Yoshito Okubo, already booked for scuffling, was shown his second yellow card for diving.
South Korea dominated for large periods but the 2002 World Cup semifinalists lacked the cutting edge necessary to press home their numerical advantage in front of 62,000 fans.
Substitute Chung Kyung-ho almost snatched a winner in stoppage time but just failed to make contact with a right-wing cross from Ahn Jung-hwan.
Japan, who needed to win to take the title, had almost scored against the run of play in the 69th minute when striker Tatsuhiko Kubo headed a corner against the post.
South Korea should have been at least two goals up by that point, Japan-based Ahn forcing a superb reflex save from goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki in the 54th minute and defender Choi Jin-chul coming close with a powerful header moments later.
The Koreans also had the better of a disappointing first half, with Ahn and Kim Do-hoon unlucky not to score after Okubo’s red card.
South Korea have beaten Japan 36 times and lost on just 12 occasions since their first meeting in 1954.
A 16th draw between the two teams was enough to give South Korea their first title under Humberto Coelho, who had been under pressure following a poor run of results.
