Australia 1-1 Korea Republic

AFC – DOHA, Mile Jedinak’s second-half goal saw Australia salvage a 1-1 draw with Korea Republic in their AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™ encounter at Al Gharafa Stadium on Friday.

Koo Ja-cheol opened the scoring in the 24th minute to give the Koreans the lead in the clash of the Group C heavyweights but Jedinak pounced just after the hour mark to ensure honours ended even in an entertaining encounter.

Korea Republic will be the more aggrieved to only take a point though, having created enough clear-cut chances to win the game.

The first chance fell Harry Kewell’s way after seven minutes when the ball broke to the midfielder in the box but he spooned his effort over the bar from close range.

Luke Wilkshire then shot straight at the Korean keeper Jung Sung-ryong from 20 yards in the 23rd minute after Jedinak’s free-kick was blocked, before Korea took the lead shortly afterwards.

A long ball over the top was held up by Ji Dong-won in the box and he squared for Koo to rifle his third goal of the tournament past Mark Schwarzer and into the far corner.

Ji then forced Schwarzer into a reflex save after being fed by Lee Young-pyo before Kewell smashed a well-worked free-kick just over the bar.

Korea Republic came close to doubling their lead eight minutes before the break when Park Ji-sung’s cross flicked off the head of Ji before hitting David Carney, who knew nothing about it, and the ball flew just wide.

Kewell pulled a low left-foot shot beyond the far post from the edge of the box before the South Koreans were indebted to some excellent defending from Cha Du-ri to preserve their lead.

Wilkshire’s cross was dummied by Kewell and an unmarked Cahill looked certain to score only for Cha to get back and nick the ball away from the Everton striker with a perfectly-timed tackle.

Korea began the second period on the front foot and Koo shot straight at Schwarzer before Lee Jung-soo glanced Koo’s cross narrowly over the bar.

The Australian keeper was called into action again on the hour mark as he turned away Park’s angled drive after some neat skill from the Manchester United man.

The Socceroos drew level two minutes later, however. The Korean defence failed to deal with Wilkshire’s corner from the right and after Lucas Neill dumped the ball back into the six-yard box, Jedinak out-jumped Jung to nod home the equaliser.

Ji drilled wide from the edge of the box and Schwarzer did well to get down and push away Ki Seung-yeung’s close-range effort four minutes from time after Yeom Ki-hyun had nodded Lee Chung-yong’s cross into the midfielder’s path.