South Korea crowned King’s Cup champions
Thailand denied glory after being held to draw in final match despite having plenty of chances to secure victory
NAKHON RATCHASIMA: South Korea were crowned the King’s Cup champions after they drew 0-0 with Thailand in their final match last night.
In yesterday’s other match, Honduras upset Uzbekistan 4-2 at the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary Stadium.
After three games, South Korea, an U22 side, won the title with seven points from two wins and one draw.
Thailand were second with four points while Uzbekistan and Honduras each had three points.
Thailand, who used their full international team, were the better side against the Koreans but failed to break their defence.
The Southeast Asian champions, who needed to win by at least two goals to lift the trophy, squandered numerous chances.
It was one-way traffic in the final minutes as Thailand, who last won the tournament in 2007, threw everything at South Korea.
Earlier, Uzbekistan, an U22 team, made a fast start when Diyorjon Turapov scored an early goal.
However, Honduras, an U20 side, scored three unanswered goals before Uzbekistan made the scoreline look better in injury time.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Cha Du-ri, who played in South Korea’s defeat against Australia in the 2015 Asian Cup, has retired from international football.
The son of Bundesliga great Cha Bum-Kun, he began his career as a speedy winger but found his true calling as a galloping wingback, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake with trademark wide-eyed, fullblooded challenges.
Nicknamed ‘Cha-minator’ and the ‘human weapon’, Cha was to be avoided at all costs, even on the training ground where his own teammates and coaches were left battered and bruised after tangling with him.
Tributes to Cha’s contribution to the national team poured in over the weekend, with teammates past and present leading the way.
“He was faster than the ball,” said captain Ki Sung-Sueng said. “He devoted himself to the national team and he deserves respect.”
Former national team defender Lee Young-Pyo highlighted Cha’s aggression and physicality as his biggest assets.
“One of his own coaches damaged his ribs when he bumped into Cha during training,” said Lee.
“Even German players weren’t able to overcome him. His physical traits aren’t those of a typical Korean player.”