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London 2012 Olympics: Football: South Korea 2 Japan 0

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South Korea 2 Japan 0: Park and Koo seal bronze for Koreans in Cardiff

PUBLISHED:

21:12 GMT, 10 August 2012

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UPDATED:

21:12 GMT, 10 August 2012

South Korea claimed their first-ever Olympic football medal as they saw off Japan to secure bronze at the Millennium Stadium.

Arsenal's Park Chu-Young set them on their way with a superb solo effort in the 38th minute before skipper Koo Ja-Cheol sealed the win 11 minutes into the second half.

Japan enjoyed plenty of possession but, like Great Britain before them, found it tough to break down a well-organised Korean rearguard.

Job done! South Korea secured their first ever Olympic medal in football after they beat Japan 2-0

Job done! South Korea secured their first ever Olympic medal in football after they beat Japan 2-0

Korea captain Koo was heavily involved from the off and had a penalty appeal waved away when he went down far too easily with Hiroki Sakai in close attendance.

After a difficult start Japan slowly settled, but there was a niggly undercurrent to the game, summed up by Koo's wild lunge on Japan skipper Maya Yoshida, which earned the midfielder a booking.

It took almost half-an-hour for the first shot on target, with Jung Sung-Ryong unconvincingly parrying Hiroshi Kiyotake's low shot.

Arsenal's Park Chu-Young, who scored the opener, was ecstatic to get his bronze medal

Arsenal's Park Chu-Young, who scored the opener, was ecstatic to get his bronze medal

Contrast: Hiroshi Kiyotake cuts a dejected figure as he lies on the turf after the defeat

Contrast: Hiroshi Kiyotake cuts a dejected figure as he lies on the turf after the defeat

Sakai headed over from a corner for Japan, but it was South Korea who took the lead when Park seized on a poor defensive header to brilliantly turn Daisuke Suzuki and fire low beyond Shuichi Gonda.

Yuki Otsu crafted a great chance to level early in the second half, but scuffed his shot after linking with Keigo Higashi.

And the miss was punished seconds later when Sunderland's Ji Dong-Won flicked on goalkeeper Jung's punt downfield to allow Koo to shoot across Gonda into the net.

It was almost 3-0 just shy of the hour but Gonda managed to tip Kim Bo-Kyoung's curling effort onto the post.

Japan pushed forward in search of a way back into the game, but their hopes of setting up a tense finish ended when Yoshida's header was ruled out for a block on Jung with three minutes to go.

Battle: The Japanese could not break down South Korea's robust defence

Battle: The Japanese could not break down South Korea's robust defence

London 2012 Olympics: Spain 0 Japan 1

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Spain 0 Japan 1: Otsu the Hampden hero as big guns crash in Group D opener

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UPDATED:

16:18 GMT, 26 July 2012

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LIVE RESULTS |
EVENT SCHEDULE |
MEDALS TABLE

World and European champions Spain fell to a surprise defeat in their opening match of the Olympic Games as Japan claimed a 1-0 win with a hugely impressive performance at Hampden Park.

Yuki Otsu's first-half goal was enough for three points but in truth the margin of victory could have been much greater as 10-man Spain struggled with the pace and pressure enforced by their opponents.

The 1992 Olympic champions were already 1-0 down when they had Inigo Martinez sent-off with five minutes remaining in the first half and failed to recover from their numerical disadvantage.

Breakthrough: Yuki Otsu (left) celebrates opening the scoring as Japan stunned Spain in the first half

Breakthrough: Yuki Otsu (left) celebrates opening the scoring as Japan stunned Spain in the first half

MATCH FACTS

Spain: De Gea, Dominguez, Javi Martinez, Martinez, Jordi Alba, Montoya, Koke (Tello 81), Isco (Romeu 63), Adrian (Ander Herrera 56), Rodrigo, Mata

Subs Not Used: Marino, Azpilicueta, Muniain, Botia

Sent Off: Martinez (41)

Booked: Jordi Alba, Dominguez.

Japan: Gonda, Tokunaga, Hiroki Sakai (Gotuko Sakai 74), Yoshida, Suzuki, Ogihara (Yamamura 86), Higashi, Yamaguchi,
Kiyotake, Otsu (Saito 46), Nagai

Subs Not Used: Ando, Muramatsu, Sugimoto, Usami. Booked: Saito

Goals: Otsu 34.

Att: 41,000 Ref: Mark Geiger (USA)

Keigo Higashi, Kensuke Nagai and Hiroshi Kiyotake all went close for Japan after the break but the one goal was enough to send the Asians top of Group D after Honduras and Morocco's 2-2 draw earlier in the day.

Spain started by trying to impose their usual possession-based dominance on the game but they were hustled from the very first whistle by an energetic Japanese outfit.

Chelsea's Juan Mata forced Shuichi Gonda into a fine save with Spain's only serious effort of the first half but it was Japan who were threatening more regularly and they were rewarded after 33 minutes when Otsu outmuscled Martin Montoya to prod home Takahiro Ohgihara's corner.

Kiyotake should then have doubled the lead as he pounced on a wayward backpass from Alvaro Dominguez but after rounding Manchester United keeper David De Gea he just could not turn his shot on target from a narrow angle.

It's there: Yuki Otsu (No 7) breaks the deadlock

It's there: Yuki Otsu (No 7) breaks the deadlock

Up against it: Spain were reduced to 10 men as Inigo Martinez (No 5) was shown the red card

Up against it: Spain were reduced to 10 men as Inigo Martinez (No 5) was shown the red card

Spain, with Chelsea's Juan Mata in their starting XI, were then plunged into even more trouble moments later when Martinez was sent-off for bringing down Nagai just outside the area.

And despite half-time appearing to come at the right time for Luis Milla's men they looked just as rattled after the break as the Japanese passed up a host of opportunities to extend their lead early in the second half.

Together: The Japanese players in a huddle at Hampden before kick-off

Together: The Japanese players in a huddle at Hampden before kick-off

De Gea was called into action to make a fine save from Higashi in the 49th minute but the stopper should have been left helpless when Nagai broke through on goal moments later, only for the striker to pull his shot inches wide of the target.

Kiyotake had an almost identical opportunity two minutes later at the end of an amazing solo run through the Spanish defence but again his shot slipped just wide.

High hopes: Spain were fancied to succeed at the London 2012 Olympics

High hopes: Spain were fancied to succeed at the London 2012 Olympics

Milla had introduced midfielders Ander Herrera and Oriol Romeu for more offensive options in Isco and Adrian Lopez to try and stem the tide and while the tactic worked in preventing the Japanese counter-attacking with ease, Spain still struggled to create their own clear-cut openings.

Jordi Alba's effort was easily smothered by Gonda with 12 minutes remaining but Spain were again thankful to De Gea as he made a stunning stop to once again deny Nagai before Hotaru Yamaguchi sliced wide with the goal at his mercy in stoppage time.

Too quick: Japan scorer Yuki Otsu, gets to the ball ahead of Martin Montoya

Too quick: Japan scorer Yuki Otsu, gets to the ball ahead of Martin Montoya