The United States played to a 1-1 draw with South Korea in the opening game for both teams at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup on Saturday in Montreal.
The Stars and Stripes could be considered lucky to escape the Olympic Stadium with a point, as after the U.S. got the opener from Columbus Crew midfielder Danny Szetela, the Koreans dominated the game and poured on the pressure in the second half.
The Asian side, however, was unable to get more than Young Rok Kim's 38th-minute strike.
The United States got on the board first in the 16th minute, as UCLA forward Sal Zizzo whipped in a cross from the right touchline. Real Salt Lake midfielder Freddy Adu flicked the ball to the back post, and Szetela drove a header into the net.
The South Koreans held the advantage in possession during the first half, but were forced to wait for their goal. In the 25th minute, Young Sung Shim was denied by a diving stop from U.S. and RSL 'keeper Chris Seitz.
In the 31st, Young Rok Kim collected a loose ball, but fired over the bar. Seven minutes later, though, Kim made good on a deft through ball from Shim, sliding the equalizer under Seitz.
The U.S. nearly struck right back, but New York Red Bulls forward Josmer Altidore's header was wide. Kim put another ball in the back of the net in the 42nd, but he was whistled for offside.
The Koreans opened the second half in control of the match, and Kim was just inches away from giving his side the lead, curling his shot from 18 yards past Seitz but putting it off the face of bar.
Chung Yong Lee then tried to finish off a counterattack shortly after the hour mark by lofting the ball over Seitz, but the effort went well wide.
The Stars and Stripes got a scare in the next minute as Altidore was leveled by Korean goalkeeper Jim Hyeon Kim. In his attempt to punch clear a cross, Kim caught Altidore in the face, as well. The big 17-year-old lay on the ground for a couple of minutes and was attended to by the U.S. trainers, but he was able to continue.
The U.S. should have scored in the 71st minute as the Koreans were unable to fully clear the ball following several U.S. attempts at goal. Michael Bradley had a clear shot, but drove the ball into a defender.
Seitz then had to rush out from goal to try to stop a streaking Tae Goon Ha. Seitz delayed Ha long enough that by the time the Korean substitute rounded Seitz, there were four U.S. defenders on the line, and Ha hit a shot into the side netting.
The U.S. 'keeper had to come to the rescue again a minute before full time. Seitz once again rushed out to halt a breakaway attacker, then retreated to goal to smother a shot from Ha.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
