Indonesia fails

Indonesia fails to qualify for quaterfinals in Asian Cup

South Korea squeezed into the Asian Cup quarter-finals with a narrow 1-0 victory over Indonesia here on Wednesday, silencing 90,000 heartbroken fans in the heaving Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

Korea took second place in group D behind Saudi Arabia, who thrashed Bahrain 4-0, and thus ended plucky Indonesia's dreams.

Korean coach Pim Verbeek was a relieved man having taken only one point from his first two games, in which his team twice squandered 1-0 leads.

"We spoke to the players before this game and told them that every game from now on would be a final," he said.

"We played well, we scored a good goal and created many chances. We're ready for the next match."

Indonesia's Bulgarian coach Ivan Kolev was not too dispirited by his side's failure to make it to the knock-out phase, saying his team did the nation proud.

"I feel disappointed because we did not qualify but I am also proud," he was quoted by AFP as saying.

"They fought to the death, until the end of the game. I'm proud of my players for what they did from the first to the third match.

"They played their best even though before the tournament we all knew that we had very tough opponents such as Saudi Arabia and South Korea."

As always with games involving the co-hosts it started at a frantic pace and Indonesia should have had a penalty after just three minutes.

Elie Aiboy won a race to the ball in the penalty box and he nicked it away from goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae, only to be brought down by a combination of
goalkeeper and covering defender. dre. mhs & m/juli2007