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The one that got away

June 17, 2014

Korea settles for 1-1 tie as Russia overcomes GK blunder to get off the hook

In the combination photo, Russia’s goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev catches the ball on a kick by South Korea’s Lee Keun-ho, but lets it bounce over his head allowing South Korea to score during the group H World Cup soccer match between Russia and South Korea at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, Brazil, Tuesday, June 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

By Lee Kyutae

Russia gift-wrapped one for South Korea, but the South Koreans could only keep it the bag for six minutes.

South Korea played Russia to a 1-1 draw in their opening Group H match at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil on Tuesday.

After a dull scoreless first half at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, South Korea got a gift goal as the Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev let Lee Keun-ho’s telegraphed long-distance shot get past him.

The shot was directly at him. He didn’t even have to move his feet. But the ball got through his hands and deflected off his head into the back of the net in the 67th minute.

Clearly embarrassed, after dropping what was a routine save from a shot from about 30 yards, Akinfeev stayed on the ground inside his own goal in disbelief, covering his face with his hands.

However, South Korea let him off the hook after only six minutes.

Goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong blocked Alan Dzagoev’s cross-shot, but Hwang Seok-ho’s clearance hit Andrei Yeshchenko, and Alexander Kerzhakov was on hand to kick it in.

Dzagoev and Kerzhakov both came off the bench in the second half.

In other Group H action, Belgium, considered to be the favorite to advance, pulled out 2-1 come from behind win late against South Korea’s next opponent Algeria.

Group H appears to be wide open.