Korea stun Germany

South Korea beat soccer powerhouse Germany 3-1 in a friendly here Sunday avenging its World Cup semi-final defeat in 2002.

The win was a boost for South Korea's new generation of players being groomed for the next World Cup in 2006 and also marked the first defeat by the German squad under new coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

South Korea, coached by Dutchman Jo Bonfrere, scored first when midfielder Kim Dong-Jin volleyed a powerful left-foot shot into the German net in the 16th minute of the game at the Busan Asiad Stadium.

German captain Michael Ballack equalised eight minutes later when his right-footed free kick flew gracefully past the left side of the wall of six South Korean defenders and into the home side's net.

But in the 70th minute, South Korean striker Lee Dong-Gook fired in a beautiful volley to regain the lead after a ball bounced back from the fumbling German defenders in the penalty area.

Germany almost drew level again in the 85th minute when the referee awarded a penalty, but luck was not on the Germans as South Korean goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae incredibly punched away Ballack's powerful spot kick.

Within a minute the South Koreans sealed the match when striker Cho Jae-Jin of Japan's Shimizu S-Pulse scored a third and final goal after connecting with a cross from 2002 World Cup striker Cha Du-Ri, who plays in Germany for Frankfurt.

The latest win was encouraging for South Korea, which has so fare faced a tough qualifying process for the 2006 World Cup. Germany do not have to qualify because they are hosting the tournament.

"We're obviously disappointed," Klinsmann said. "We were positive and tried to dictate but they took us out of our rhythm and took their chances. Credit to South Korea."

Bonfrere, who took over the South Korean side in June, wanted to get the true measure of his new 20-man squad -- mostly consisting of uncapped domestic players -- to replace the ageing heroes of 2002.

Those included the three goalscorers here Sunday -- FC Seoul's midfielder Kim, 22, Gwangju Sangmu's striker Lee, 25, and Cho, 23, a prolific striker in South Korea's Olympic team who plays in Japan for Shimizu S-Pulse.

Since its amazing run to the semi-finals of that tournament, South Korea has suffered a series of poor displays which included a draw to Asian minnows Maldives and defeat to Vietnam.

The Korean Football Association, Seoul's football governing body fired coach Hubert Coelho, who had been hired to replace World Cup coach Guus Hiddink, to make way for Bonfrere.

Bonfrere forged a team that included only two 2002 World Cup heroes -- striker Cha Du-Ri and goalkeeper Lee Woon-Jae while Klinsmann brought over a squad that included six survivors from the class of 2002 -- including stopper Oliver Kahn, striker Miroslav Klose and captain Ballack.

The German team routed Japan 3-0 in Yokohama Thursay in the first leg of their three-nation Asian tour that also takes them to Bangkok in Thailand on Tuesday.