Emre Asik wins possession for Turkey (Allsport).
Turkey 3 China 0
By Martyn Ziegler, PA Chief Sports Reporter, Seoul
Hasan Sas smoothed Turkey's path to the last 16 despite a generally
unconvincing team performance against China, the weakest side in the World Cup.
The Galatasaray player, who drew many admiring glances for his display against
Brazil, scored the first and created goals for Bulent Korkmaz and Umit Ozat as
Turkey did just enough to oust Costa Rica from the runners-up spot in Group C.
Coach Bora Milutinovic had said before the game that China would settle merely
for scoring a goal, so with expectations set at such a low level it was no
surprise when Turkey took the lead after six minutes.
Hasan Sas, the only Turkish player to have made a real impression so far in
this World Cup, seized on mistake by Li Weifeng and hammered a rising shot past
Jiang Jin into the net despite the Chinese keeper getting a hand to the ball.
Three minutes later and it was 2-0, Hasan Sas again involved with a
penetrating cross from the left which his Galatasaray clubmate Bulent met with a
looping header which dropped over Jiang Jin.
Hao Haidong did his best to find that elusive goal after rounding Emre Asik
but his low drive from a tight angle was never likely to beat keeper Rustu at
the near-post.
Li Weifeng thrashed a shot wide after a neat cut-back by Hao Haidong, then
after 27 minutes Yang Chen came within inches of scoring the goal that all China
has been craving.
The striker struck a lovely half-volley which crashed back off the post after
strike-partner Haidong Hao's accurate centre.
Du Wei then drew screams from the crowd when his path to goal opened up
briefly but his shot was blocked.
Four minutes into the second half, Hasan Sas threatened again, forcing Jiang
Jin into a sprawling save down to his left.
China's predicament was made worse when substitute Shao Jiayi caught Emre
Belozoglu with his studs from behind and was red-carded by Colombian referee
Oscar Ruiz.
From Hasan Sas' free-kick, Umit had a clear header but could only direct it
straight at the Chinese keeper.
Hakan Sukur, who has failed to live up to expectations in this tournament so
far, was picked out by Umit and though he managed, for once, to put a header on
target, Jiang Jin pulled off an excellent diving save.
Qu Bo flashed a shot a yard wide, before Emre Asik passed up a simple chance
to increase Turkey's advantage.
With five minutes to go, Umit calmed Turkish nerves with a sweetly-struck
volley in-off the post from Hasan Sas' deep cross.
Jiang Jin pulled off a stunning save to prevent Ilhan Mansiz making it four,
after Hakan Sukur had back-heeled the ball neatly into the substitute's path.
Turkey will have two suspensions for their second round game, with Japan the
most likely opponents as Emre Asik and Emre Belozoglu were both booked for the
second time in the group games.
Teams
Turkey: Rustu (Omer 35), Asik, Korkmaz, Unsal, Akyel,
Tugay (Tayfur 84), Basturk (Mansiz 70), Emre, Davala, Sukur,
Sas.
Subs Not Used: Abdullah, Alpay, Erdem, Ergun, Izzet, Nihat,
Okan, Ozat, Zafer.
Booked: Asik, Emre, Sas.
Goals: Sas 6, Korkmaz 9, Davala 85.
China PR: Jiang, Pu Yang, Wu (Shao 46), Weifeng Li, Du, Xu,
Tie Li, Zhao, Xiaopeng Li, Hao (Qu 73), Chen Yang (Yu 73).
Subs Not Used: An, Gao, Jihai, Ma, Ou, Qi, Su, Zhang, Zhiyi.
Sent Off: Shao (59).
Booked: Pu Yang, Weifeng Li.
Att: 43,605
Ref: O Ruiz (Colombia).
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