Seol of South Korea takes on Sanneh (Allsport).

By Paul Walker, PA Sport, Daegu

A wonderful display from Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel all but broke the hearts of the Korean nation here.

The former Liverpool man produced a string of stunning saves - including a first half penalty - to keep the exciting Group D wide open.

Both these sides could still qualify, but it will go to the last matches - thanks to Freidel's heroics.

Swamped in a vast sea of red, 63,000 Koreans pounding out their chants and songs, and the USA were subjected to an ordeal of noise and patriotism, very much like any foreigner experiences when the US host the Olympics!

The boot was on the other foot here as Korea's fabulously organised Red Devil cheering club - so powerful now the president has asked them to instruct their legions to vote in local elections that are being all but ignored as World Cup fever takes over this country -created a quite wonderful atmosphere in Korea's biggest stadium.

The sheer intimidation and passion of the crowd was everything it had been in Busan when the Poles were put to the sword and now a whole nation was waiting for the Yanks to get the same treatment.

And they could have been behind twice in the opening minutes. First Anderlecht's Seol Ki Hyeon hammered a drive over the bar, and then Kim Nam spotted Friedel off his line, and from 25 yards tried a cheeky volley that the big 'keeper got back just in time to hold.

The US had Sunderland's Claudio Reyna back from injury to captain the side and stiffen it's midfield. And with Yoo Sang Chul powering forward like he did to score from long range against Poland, Reyna was more than needed.

Friedel, too, was overworked. He made a fine save with his legs when Seol Ki Hyeon again found himself in acres of space on the left to drill in an angled drive.

But having weathered the storm, the States threatened when Landon Donovan lashed over a cross that Brian McBride just missed, and when the ball was swiped back into the box, Donovan drove a shot inches wide.

Korea didn't heed the warning and on 23 minutes the States broke out again and grabbed the lead. Clint Mathis, with a Mohican haircut that David Beckham would have been proud of, took a ball chipped over the defence and crashed it past Lee Woon Jae's left hand.

The States, who almost scored again through DaMarcus Beasley, now had something to cling onto, unlike the Poles who never managed to stop the whirlwind long enough to get a foothold on the match.

The Koreans were in the wars too, against very physical defenders. Hwang Sun Hong had a massive head bandage to stem the flow of blood after a clash with Jeff Agoos, and Park Ji Sung limped off to be replaced by Lee Chung Soo.

But Korea were given a golden chance to equalise on 39 minutes when Agoos was cautioned after pulling down Hwang Sun Hong in the box. But when Lee Eul Yong stepped to to take the penalty, Friedel made a superb save to his right.

Two minutes after the break, Friedel made another wonder save when he somehow got in the way of a fierce shot from only 12 yards, Seol Ki Hyeon hardly believing what he had seen.

The USA fought for their lives, their big, quick defenders taking no prisoners, and they were getting no help from Swiss referee Urs Meier with a constant string of decisions in favour of the hosts.

Guus Hiddink took off Hwang Sun Hong on 55 minutes, the striker now minus his bandage but a little punch drunk after a battering from Agoos.

On came Perugia's Ahn Jung Hwan to play upfront and try to save the day for the Koreans, who were being driven forward by the crowd and getting near to the whirlwind that destroyed the Poles.

But the States knew how to break out and on 65 minutes Beasley got away down the left and when McBride made a well timed run in the box, the cross arrived for the big striker to almost force past Lee Woon Jae.

On 70 minutes Friedel made another stunning save, blocking from substitute Choi Yong Soo on his near post.

But not even Friedel could stop the onslaught and on 77 minutes Korea were level. Another debatable free kick went Korea's way and when it was hoisted into the box, Ahn Jung Hwan got to it before Agoos and sent a header just inside the far post, the stadium erupting in joy and relief.

And Friedel was helpless again in the 89th minute when Lee Eul Yong's laid back cross was balloned over the bar from eight yards by Choi Yong Soo.

Teams

Subs Not Used: Cha, En-Sung Choi, Sung-Young Choi, Tae-Uk Choi, Hyun, Byung-Ji Kim, Min-Sung Lee, Yong-Pyo Lee, Yoon.

Booked: Hong.

Goals: Ahn 78.

USA: Friedel, Hejduk, Agoos, Pope, Sanneh, O'Brien, Reyna, Mathis (Wolff 82), Beasley (Lewis 74), McBride, Donovan.

Subs Not Used: Berhalter, Cherundolo, Jones, Keller, Llamosa, Mastroeni, Meola, Moore, Regis, Stewart.

Booked: Hejduk, Agoos.

Goals: Mathis 24.

Att: 60,778

Ref: U Meier (Switzerland).