South Korea 2-0 Costa Rica
World Cup co-hosts South Korea clinched a morale-boosting win over Costa Rica in Daegu.
Cha Doo-Ri, son of Korea's greatest player Cha Bum-Kun, opened his international account and set up the second to set coach Gus Hiddink another selection problem.
Watched by his father, commentating for television, Cha played a pivotal role in a win that gave Korea some revenge for their 3-1 defeat by Costa Rica in the United States in February.
Despite Cha's performance Hiddink must still be worried about the lack of firepower up front.
South Korea dominated from the start with Lee Young-Pyo hitting the woodwork in the seventh minute.
side never managed to get a clear edge over a largely experimental Costa Rican team that held Korea's co-hists Japan to a 1-1 draw three days earlier.
Minutes after Lee's effort, Rolando Fonseca's header at the
other end was desperately cleared off the South Korean goal line.
Bum-Kun Cha made his name in Germany in the 1970s and 80s and never played in any of South Korea's
five World Cup finals.
His son, playing in his fourth international even though he is
still officially a student at Korea University, was involved in nearly all his side's attacks.
Cha was celebrating his first goal for his country in the 26th minute after Ahn Jung-Hwan crossed from the right and
Cha's volley went in off the goal post.
Ahn, who was released by his Italian side Perugia for the match, was the other bright spot for Hiddink.
Ahn and Cha linked up well
and first-half injury time, Ahn beat four players before shooting narrowly wide.
Early in the second half Ahn flicked the ball across for Cha who
shot against the legs of Costa Rica's substitute goalkeeper Lester
With six minutes left Cha crossed from the right for Choi Tae-Uk who
rounded Morgan to shoot into an empty net to South Korea only
their third victory of the year.
They have also lost four matches and drawn three, highlighting
Hiddink's dilemma as he agonises over a final squad with time fast