Coaches of both DPR Korea and Nigeria spoke out their dissatisfactions against the Australian referee Tammy Ogston who officiated their World Cup Group B match ending here on Friday in favor of the Asians.
"We've taken the crucial win here today. If the Australian could have refereed more fair, I think the game would be played with more highlights," said coach Kim Kwang Min after the DPR Koreans sealed a 2-0 victory over Nigeria with goals after just 21 minutes into the games.
"There's no big problem in the referee's rule. But it'll be a more fluent game if she could have done better," echoed Nigerian coach Ntiero Effiom.
DPR Korea now tie with the United States on both points and goal differential as the group leaders and needs only a draw in its final game against Sweden to be certain of its first World Cup quarterfinal berth.
"We'd watched the Sweden-Nigeria game on Tuesday and well prepared for today's match, which was a new starting point after both match of the group's first round ended in draw," said Kim, who took over the team in 2005 after they narrowly missed out the chances to advance from group stage in the 2003 world cup.
"I'm not yet thinking about the knocking-out stage, saying nothing of being against Germany or England," he said.
The group finishes Tuesday with the Koreans facing Sweden and the U.S. taking on Nigeria, and the winners will play the second-place team from Group A and the second meets the top-placed one in Group A, which now follows the standings of Germany, Japan, England and Argentina.
"Our captain and key striker Ri Kum Suk is not matching her best perform now, and I expect more from her," added Kim.
Effiom was not satisfied with the first half performance from his players, but kept in up mood for advancing to the quarters, though his team sitting temporarily on the bottom of the Group B table after tying on both points and goal differential with Sweden.
"The first half was very tough. We conceded two goals on early minutes, and that made it even more difficult for us to go on," he said. "But in my mind, the players played a better game after the break."
"We granted three points to the Koreans, but there still lies a slim hope for us to reach the quarters. Actually, we are full of expectations for the final group match against the U.S..
"Here's in the group stage. Here's in the Group of Death. And everything is possible," he added.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article