In one of the better matches played so far, the host country battled to a hard fought 1:1 draw in the second half, after America took the lead in the first, and in spite of numerous chances in front of goal.

The Koreans started the match attacking and were unlucky not to go ahead in the 7th minute when Hwang Sun-hong chipped the ball to the far left post only to see Seol Ki-hyon volley over the bar. Two minutes later, Kim Nam-il lobbed goalkeeper Brad Friedel from 30 meters only to see him tip it over the bar. Korea continued to dominate the opening stages with a rapid flurry of shots from Park Ji-sung, Song Chong-gug and Seol, keeping Friedel on his toes.

The US came back into the game with two attempts by Landon Donovan and against the run of play went ahead in the 24th minute when, in probably his first touch of the ball, Clint Mathis shot from close range past Lee Woon-jae.

Korea reacted by launching more attacks, but couldn't finish leading to coach Guss Hiddink bringing on attacker Lee Chung-soo for Park Ji-sung in the 38th minute. The pressure appeared to pay off with Korea being awarded a penalty in the 40th minute for a foul by Jeff Agoos on Hwang, however Lee Eung-young lacked power in the shot and diving to his right Friedel stopped it, while Kim Nam-il sent the rebound wide.

Despite constant attacking the US defense held firm and the home team went into the dressing room a goal down at the end of the first half.

The second half opened fast and furious with Seol, being played through from a header by Hwang, firing a vicious shot, which Friedel managed to parry for a corner. Next to fire at goal was Yoo Sang-chul with a header, but he too was denied by the American keeper.

Determined to continue attacking, Hiddink brought on Ahn Jung-hwan, another forward, for Hwang in the 57th minute as Korea continued to press the US, winning a succession of corners. However the American back four and Friedel, playing the game of his life, continued to stymie the Korean onslaught. Choi Young-soo came on for Yoo in the 70th and nearly got the tying goal when he shot from six yards out in his first touch of the game, but again Friedel saved.

The pressure kept building with a run by Seol, which was harried out by the defense and then a shot from Nam that skimmed just wide. Eddie Lewis came on for DaMarcus Beasley as US coach Bruce Arena sought to strengthen his defense.

Korea finally got a reward for all its pressure with a 78th minute equalizer when Ahn rose in the box to meet a free kick from the left and headed past Friedel, sending the stadium wild.

Both teams notched it up a level as they went looking for a winner; Arena bought on Josh Wolfe for Clint Mathis, a striker for a striker. Korea missed a clear winner in the 90th minute when a beautiful move by Lee set Choi Yong-soo up with an open goal, however he smashed the ball well over the bar.

This proved to be the last effective shot of the game, which came to a close after two minutes of overtime. Both Korea and the US now top Group D with four points each and need a draw or a win in their next matches against, Portugal and Poland respectively, on June 14, to ensure qualifying for the second round.

(Chris Price, chris@chosun.com )