By Cho Jin-seo
Staff Reporter

With Kim Dong-jin, Lee Dong-gook and Cho Jae-jin scoring a goal each, the young generation of the South Korean national football team beat Germany 3-1 in Pusan on Sunday, taking revenge of the loss their seniors had in the 2002 World Cup and also giving a positive sign for the 2006 event.

All aged under 26 except Lee and midfielder Kim Sang-sik, South Korea lacked both in individual skills and teamwork, but were more efficient in the most important part of football _ scoring goals.

``It was a good game,’’ Jo Bonfrere, the head coach of South Korea, said in German. ``The average age of our team was about 23 today. Kim Jin-kyu was even under 20. But they didn’t let the chances they had slip away, and showed what they have got. I expect the game will be a good lesson to the future of the team.’’

The win also was a personal payback of Lee Woon-jae, whose superb save on Michael Ballack’s penalty kick in the 84th minute secured the hardly-expected victory of the hosts. In 2002, Ballack had scored the winning goal of the semifinals, by putting back a rebounder from Lee in the second half.

Backed by the stadium-packed home crowd, South Korea grabbed the early lead in the 15th minute, as Kim volleyed in a left-footer from the left side of the box when Lee Dong-gook’s cross bounced off from a defender. But eight minutes later, Ballack put the game back on the even basis as the veteran midfielder skillfully bent in a free-kick which bounced into the narrow gap between the right pole and Lee Woon-jae’s reach.

After the game-tying goal, the Germans fully regained confidence to dominate the field, but Miroslav Klose and Kevin Kuranyi failed to utilize several fine chances, and South Korea finally reversed the momentum of the game in the 70th minute when Lee blasted the ball into the top right corner from the left edge of the box, while defender Arne Friedrich lost sight of both Lee and the ball.

Ballack could have tied it again in the 84th minute, but the crucial penalty kick was blocked by Lee’s heroic dive. And a minute later, while the crowds were still shouting out Lee’s name, Cho Jae-jin sent a final blow to the visitors as he shook the German net from just a meter away on a short cross from Cha Du-ri, sending the crowd into a rapture.

``I am disappointed to lose, but we also could learn a lot of things from the match,’’ German head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said, after his team managed to score only one goal on 19 shots. ``South Korea were fast in counterattacks, and also were good at man-for-man marking. They were beyond my expectation, and I just want to congratulate them,’’ he added.

The national team will leave for a North American tour in January.

chojinseo@gmail.com