Korean coach Park takes responsibility for semi-final loss to Iran

BUSAN, South Korea, Oct 10 (AFP) - South Korean coach Park Hang-Seo was on the verge of quitting on Friday after his young team lost to Iran in a dramatic penalty-kick decider to the Asian Games semi-final clash.

The victory by defending champions Iran sealed a final place against Japan on Sunday.

Park, who took over from national hero Guus Hiddink after South Korea's run to the semi-finals of the World Cup, said he took full responsibility for any tactical failure which resulted in the loss.

The Koreans, with five World Cup players in their line up, failed to capitalise on their chances against a defensive Iran side in 120 minutes of football and were sent packing in the penalty shoot out.

Lee Young-Pyo, one of the stars of the World Cup, missed the second penalty and captain for the day Yahya Golmohammadi put Iran into their second successive final by scoring his team's fifth spot kick.

"I did not expect to lose - the players competed well but just did not take their chances," said Park after Irans 5-3 penalty kick triumph. "I choose the sequence for the penalty kicks so if anyone is at fault it is me.

"I decided on the tactics for the game and if anyone can find fault in them, again, they should point the finger at me."

In contrast to Park's sombre mood, Iran coach Branko Ivancovic was overjoyed that his team prevailed in penalty kicks.

"South Korea are a good team and we went out today to try and stop their attacks and hit them on the break," he said. "As the game wore on and went into extra time we knew that our best chance would be in penalties."

He added that the loss of captain Ali Daei, who flew home to Iran earlier in the week after the death of his father, had instilled an extra fighting spirit in the team.

"Ali Daei is a legend of the game in Iran and he is a great captain," said Ivancovic. "Iranians are an emotional people and the players are determined to win him a gold medal to ease his pain."