Park Chu-young's first half penalty earned South Korea a 1-0 win over Jordan on Saturday evening to move Huh Jung-moo's side back to the top of Group Three of Asia's World Cup qualifying competition.
The FC Seoul forward struck from the spot in the 22nd minute after Oh Beom-seok was brought down in the penalty area by Jordanian goalkeeper Loai Al Amaireh.
The victory was enough to move South Korea ahead of North Korea, who defeated Turkmenistan 1-0 early in the day, by virtue of a better goal difference.
Both South and North Korea have eight points from four games and could secure their places in the final round of qualifying with victories over Turkmenistan and Jordan respectively on June 14.
Park's goal earned the Koreans victory less than a week after being held to a 2-2 draw by the Jordanians, who scored twice in the last 20 minutes in Seoul to earn a point.
But the 2002 World Cup semi-finalists had no such problems this time around, although the Jordanians did go close to equalising in the 37th minute when Hasan Abdel Fattah's header bounced back of the Korea post.
The victory was enough to move South Korea ahead of North Korea, who defeated Turkmenistan 1-0 early in the day, by virtue of a better goal difference.
Both South and North Korea have eight points from four games and could secure their places in the final round of qualifying with victories over Turkmenistan and Jordan respectively on June 14.
Park's goal earned the Koreans victory less than a week after being held to a 2-2 draw by the Jordanians, who scored twice in the last 20 minutes in Seoul to earn a point.
But the 2002 World Cup semi-finalists had no such problems this time around, although the Jordanians did go close to equalising in the 37th minute when Hasan Abdel Fattah's header bounced back of the Korea post.
Copyright (c) Press Association
Related Articles
Socceroos reveal harsh Kuwait conditions: ‘10 minutes a day we see the sun’
Socceroos World Cup opponents have played 15 matches through COVID
