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E F G H
Aussies shut out South Korea
SYDNEY (AP) -- Ernie Tapai scored a disputed first-half goal to give Australia a 1-0 victory over World Cup-bound South Korea in their international soccer match Wednesday.Tapai scored in the 39th minute for the team coached by former England manager Terry Venables.
As Tapai sent the ball into the empty net from six metres, South Korea's defenders claimed offside.
South Korean coach Cha Bum-Kun backed his players and said the video replay clearly showed they were right.
"I wasn't happy with some of the decisions on the field," Cha said.
Venables disagreed and said the defence was caught out, as his team was when it lost 1-0 to Chile last week.
"Players take a risk by not moving and the gamble is too great and that's how we lost the other night," Venables said.
South Korea should have opened the scoring in the 14th minute when midfielder Ko Jong-Soo sent a long-range shot past goalkeeper Jason Petkovic and into the post.
Jin Soon-Jin followed up with a header but Petkovic recovered to make the save.
Ko was denied again when Petkovic turned a vicious free-kick over the crossbar.
Ko, 19, was his team's best player while striker Choi Yong-Soo and defender Jang Dae-Il were also impressive.
Venables, who has been linked with several European clubs since failing to qualify Australia for France '98, started his time in charge with a 2-1 win over South Korea last year.
South Korea will play in Group E at this year's World Cup along with Belgium, Mexico and the Netherlands.
NEXT ROUNDS: Round of 16 || Quarter-finals || Semi-finals
GROUP A: Brazil, Morocco, Norway, Scotland
GROUP B: Austria, Cameroon, Chile, Italy
GROUP C: Denmark, France, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
GROUP D: Bulgaria, Nigeria, Paraguay, Spain
GROUP E: Belgium, Holland, Mexico, South Korea
GROUP F: Germany, Iran, United States, Yugoslavia
GROUP G: Colombia, England, Romania, Tunisia
GROUP H: Argentina, Croatia, Jamaica, Japan