Soccer-Clumsy Koreans cling on for draw with Uzbekistan

Sept 11 (Reuters) - A stuttering South Korea remained on

course to reach an eighth consecutive World Cup after they

escaped Uzbekistan with a 2-2 draw after a poor display in their

Group A qualifying clash in Tashkent on Tuesday.

The Koreans now lie top with seven points from three matches

in the five-team World Cup qualifying pool but struggled badly

in central Asia.

Twice Asian Player of the Year Server Djeparov caused the

Koreans numerous problems with his set pieces as the visitors

never really got going on a uneven pitch.

The Uzbeks dominated the opening stages and came close to

taking the lead in the 12th minute when striker Ulugbek Bakaev's

hooked shot was cleared off the line by a scrambling Korean

defence.

But from the resulting corner by playmaker Djeparov, Korean

midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng headed into his own net after a near

post flick on by Sanjar Tursunov.

The busy striker should have doubled the advantage 10

minutes later when he sidestepped two tumbling Korean defenders

to fire a rasping left foot drive from 12 metres out but the

visitors goalkeeper, Jung Sung-ryong, palmed behind.

The Koreans were struggling to get their passing going as

the Uzbeks looked most likely to add to their lead only for some

slack defending at the end of the half to cost them.

Ki made a amends for his earlier mistake to float a deep

free kick into the Uzbek box which captain Kwak Tae-hwi met

ahead of the onrushing home goalkeeper. Uzbek defender Artyom

Filiposyan then smashed the ball into his own net as he

attempted to clear.

The second half started out with neither side able to stamp

their authority on the game before a bizarre move saw Korea take

the lead in the 56th minute.

Experienced striker Lee Dong-gook was put through down the

right but instead of shooting from inside the penalty area he

tried to side foot a first time pass across goal only to

woefully over hit the ball towards the touchline.

Fullback Park Joo-ho kept the ball in, however, and his

cross was expertly controlled by Lee with his left foot before

the striker fired the ball into the corner of the net with his

right.

The lead lasted barely two minutes before another Djeparov

corner proved the Koreans' undoing, Tursunov sneaking in behind

Park to head unchallenged into the far corner from the near

post.

Both sides had chances to win the game at the death but Lee

had his shot saved after running on to a ball over the top, with

Tursunov then firing a shot agonisingly wide of the far post

with team mates rushing in.

The point was the home side's second from three matches but

they remained behind Qatar (four points) and Iran (four points)

in the pool. Bottom-placed Lebanon were hosting Iran on Tuesday

looking to add to their one point in the group.