Germany reached the World Cup final for the first time since 1990 when a Michael Ballack goal ended the astonishing run of co-hosts South Korea in the semi-final in Seoul on Tuesday. In a bitter twist, Ballack will miss the final in Yokohama,
Japan, on Sunday after receiving a yellow card for tripping Lee Chun-Soo to earn him a one-match suspension. The goal was a result of Germany's growing dominance of the match in the second half and they deservedly earned the right to
meet Brazil or Turkey in the final as they seek a fourth world title.
With a quarter of an hour left to play, Oliver Neuville ran down the right wing and, despite the attention of a handful of
defenders, managed to send over a low cross. Ballack met it with a right-footed shot that South Korean goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae parried but Ballack was perfectly placed to hit home the rebound with his left foot, silencing the 65,256 home
crowd at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
South Korea had few second-half chances and when Park Ji-Sung hit a shot well wide of the German goal in injury time, their last chance had gone. Lee Woon-Jae, whose penalty saves kept South Korea in the quarter-final win against Spain, made amends for his poor clearance that led to the goal when he dived athletically to save Marco Bode's powerful free-kick as the Germans threatened to score again.
Germany were playing in their tenth World Cup semi-final while South Korea were in their first and the prize at stake was the
right to meet Brazil or Turkey in the final in Yokohama, Japan, on Sunday.
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[bild1]Germany reached the World Cup final for the first time since 1990 when a Michael Ballack goal ended the astonishing run of co-hosts South Korea in the semi-final in Seoul on Tuesday. In a bitter twist, Ballack will miss the final in Yokohama,
Japan, on Sunday after receiving a yellow card for tripping Lee Chun-Soo to earn him a one-match suspension. The goal was a result of Germany's growing dominance of the match in the second half and they deservedly earned the right to
meet Brazil or Turkey in the final as they seek a fourth world title.
With a quarter of an hour left to play, Oliver Neuville ran down the right wing and, despite the attention of a handful of
defenders, managed to send over a low cross. Ballack met it with a right-footed shot that South Korean goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae parried but Ballack was perfectly placed to hit home the rebound with his left foot, silencing the 65,256 home
crowd at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
South Korea had few second-half chances and when Park Ji-Sung hit a shot well wide of the German goal in injury time, their last chance had gone. Lee Woon-Jae, whose penalty saves kept South Korea in the quarter-final win against Spain, made amends for his poor clearance that led to the goal when he dived athletically to save Marco Bode's powerful free-kick as the Germans threatened to score again.
Germany were playing in their tenth World Cup semi-final while South Korea were in their first and the prize at stake was the
right to meet Brazil or Turkey in the final in Yokohama, Japan, on Sunday.
