Wednesday, June 14 2006 15:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Frankfurt: Talismanic striker Ahn Jung-Hwan came off the bench to score the winner for South Korea in their come-from-behind 2-1 victory over 10-man Togo in the Group G opener here on Tuesday.

Ahn, a hero in South Korea for his vital goals in the 2002 World Cup when they reached the last four, scored with a dipping shot in the 72nd minute.

Mohamed Kader had given Togo a surprise first-half lead but the dismissal of captain Jean-Paul Abalo early in the second half and the equaliser from Lee Chun-Soo gave them a mountain to climb.

South Korea coach Dick Advocaat said that he had gambled by bringing on Ahn at half-time and playing with four strikers, but he had hit the jackpot.

"It was a big success," he said of the substitution. "It could have gone the other way. We scored two brilliant goals and I think we deserved it (the victory)," he said.

"It is very important to win the first game - if you win the first game it is usual that you stay (a long time) in the tournament. It would have been very difficult if we had lost," he said.

"In the first half I did not recognise the team, they were so nervous. They were looking for their first World Cup win in Europe. But the players remained calm and played well in the second half," he said.

Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-Sung praised Ahn for his winning goal.

"He is a good player - he was the hero in the 2002 World Cup and he can do it again in 2006," said Park.

"Some of our players were playing in their first World Cup match and they were a little bit nervous in the first half," he said.

"In the second half Togo lost concentration and we scored from two chances. The red card (for the Togo captain) was very important. It was very hot and when you play with one player less it is very difficult," he said.

Togo coach Otto Pfister, who rejoined the team ahead of the game after walking out last week when he became disillusioned with an ongoing dispute about player bonuses, said that Togo had been over-confident and suffered as a result.

"African players take it very easy -they think they are going to win before the game," said the 68-year-old German. You have to respect the opposition the players thought we were going to win and get three points. But it is time to forget about that it is old news - and concentrate on the next game," he said.

South Korea started with an attacking 3-4-3 formation as they sought an early advantage against the African debutants. Park was deployed as a right-winger with Spurs' Lee Young-Pyo playing left midfield instead of his usual wing back position.

Advocaat's line-up included seven players who competed in the 2002 World Cup when South Korea strode to the semi-finals, although he left Ahn on the bench.

Togo had their first real sight on goal after 10 minutes when indecision in the South Korean defence allowed Kader a shooting opportunity but his effort sailed over the bar.

Park was receiving some rough treatment and Abalo was shown a yellow card for a foul on the Korean star in the 22nd minute with Alaixys Romao following Abalo into the book for a crude challenge.

Togo stunned the Koreans by taking the lead in the 31st minute. Kader took a long ball on his knee, darted between two flat-footed Korean defenders and shot low into the net. It was the 50th goal Korea had conceded in the World Cup finals.

Togo nearly increased their lead in the 41st minute, a wickedly swinging free kick from Yao Junior Senaya being brilliantly palmed over by Korean 'keeper Lee Won-Jae. Advocaat gambled at the start of the second half by putting on striker Ahn in place of central defender Kim Jin-Kyu.

Togo nearly capitalised on the short-handed defence, the tricky Kader finding room for a shot which Lee blocked.

Togo were hit with a double blow when they were reduced to 10 men and conceded a goal in the 54th minute.

Skipper Abalo was sent off after receiving a second yellow for a foul on the rampaging Park and Lee Chun-Soo sent the resultant free kick into the top corner of the net.

Togo refused to go into a defensive shell and Moustapha Salifou clipped the ball just over in the 64th minute after great work by Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor.



Ahn, who made the whole of Italy cry with his golden goal winner in the second round in 2002, took Korea back to the future with a goal in the 72nd minute. He picked up the ball, glided across the penalty box and unleashed a dipping right-foot shot past goalkeeper Kossi Agassa.