Korea edge Qatar in thriller

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Thursday, October 6th 2016 06:30 PM

SUWON: Hosts Korea on Thursday came back from a goal deficit to beat Qatar 3-2 in their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match. Ki Sungyueng (12), Ji Dongwon (56) and Son Heungmin (58) scored for the home side. Hassan Al Haydos (16, penalty) and Sebastian Soria (45) found the net for the visitors in the Asian Zone clash. In a game played at Suwon World Cup Stadium, Sungyueng gave Uli Stielike's side the lead in the 12th minute. But four minutes later, Soria was brought down by Hong Jeongho resulting in a penalty for the visitors. Qatar and Al Sadd striker Al Haydos made no mistake from the spot as he levelled matters with Qatar's first goal of Round 3 in the 16th minute. In a run against of play, Soria helped Qatar - playing in white - take the lead in injury time. Soria saw an initial effort blocked after dancing into the Korean penalty area, but the ball eventually fell his way and he poked the ball past 'keeper Kim Seunggyu. Eleven minutes into the second half, the hosts produced the equalizer after a slick finish by Dongwon. Substitute Kim Shinwook flicked a lofted ball back into the Qatari penalty area and the Augsburg forward was on hand to send the ball into the net. Just two minutes later, the hosts grabbed the lead for the second time in the tense clash. Heungmin - the in-form Spurs man - latched onto an incisive through ball to slot home a precise first-time finish. Qatar were given hope midway through the second half as Hong Jeong-ho was sent off for a second bookable offence with Soria from the resultant free-kick sending a powerful header at Kim Seung-gyu who made the save. The visitors continued to push forward but the home defence held firm