 Angola will be going to their first World Cup finals |
Angola were beaten 1-0 by South Korea in Seoul on Wednesday. Park Chu-Young scored the winning goal in the 23rd minute, firing a hard, low shot past Angola goalkeeper Joao Ricardo, to make amends for an earlier miss, when he had been set up by Park Ji-sung.
Angola, who had been forced to clear a ball off the line in the first minute, came close in the 12th minute after South Korea failed to clear a free kick.
Flavio also missed from close range after an inviting cross in the first half.
But lacking the presence of influential midfielder Figueiredo, due to injury, Angola struggled for rhythm on a freezing night with flurries of snow at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
"We had two opponents, first Korea and second the snow," said Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves.
"We've just qualified for our first World Cup, but step by step we're improving."
Wednesday's game was played to help both sides prepare for this summer's World Cup finals in Germany.
The Southern Africans, who will be appearing at the finals for the first time, will take on Portugal, Iran and Mexico in Group D.
South Korea face Togo, another of the World Cup debutants, France, and Switzerland in Group G.
Meanwhile, Burkina Faso drew 0-0 with Algeria in the French town of Rouen on Tuesday.
MMIX
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Match of the Day - Post-match interviews