Manchester United midfielder Park leads South Korea past Japan 2-0 in World Cup warmup

Park leads South Korea past Japan 2-0 in warmup

SAITAMA, Japan — Park Ji-sung scored in the first half and Park Chu-young in the second to lead South Korea to a 2-0 win over Japan on Monday night in an exhibition between nations headed to the World Cup.

Manchester United’s Park Ji-sung picked up a loose ball and sent an angled shot past goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki in the sixth minute at Saitama Stadium. Park Chu-young converted a penalty kick in the first minute of second-half stoppage time after being fouled in the penalty area.

“We didn’t lose our composure despite playing in front of a sellout crowd and that was why we won,” South Korea coach Huh Jung-moo said.

Japan’s best chance came in the 76th minute when Catania forward Takayuki Morimoto’s shot from the edge of the area was saved by Jung Sung-ryeong.

“We don’t play well when we are down a goal, and will have to play better in the first half,” Japan coach Takeshi Okada said. “Losing to South Korea twice in a year is not good enough and I take responsibility for that, but there is nothing we can do but go forward.”

Both teams depart for pre-World Cup training camps in Europe this week.

Japan will play England in Austria on May 30 and Ivory Coast in Switzerland on June 4 before arriving in South Africa. The South Korean team will leave Japan on Tuesday for a training camp in Austria and exhibitions against Belarus on May 30 and European champion Spain on June 3.