South Korea Edges U.A.E.

South Korea remained at the top of group B thanks to a 2-1 home win against the U.A.E. Park Chu-Young scored his fifth goal in three games to pace the Koreans.

The U.A.E, playing its first qualifying game under new coach Abdullah Masfar, had an improved performance compared to its opening two matches, but still came up short in the end. They held the South Koreans scoreless into the halftime break, before they began to break down defensively.

The Arsenal forward Chu-Young ended the stalemate five minutes into the second half and eased domestic fears that South Korea would drop two points to a weaker side. As the Koreans pushed on for the second, they were gifted it by a U.A.E. own goal.

Ismail Matar pulled a late goal back for the U.A.E. in added time, but it was too little too late for the away side who has now lost all three of its games in the third round.