aussie team beats leading K league team
Queensland Roar have continued the success of Australian teams overseas in the last week, with a surprise 1-0 win over leading Korean team Incheon United FC in the southern city of Tongyeong.
The lone goal was scored by former New Zealand Knights midfielder Steve Fitzsimmons, who was invited on the trip by coach Miron Bleiberg after the withdrawal of Todd Gava.
Having endured a horror trip to Korea, which included a 12-hour delay in Sydney and arriving 17 hours later than expected, Queensland defied all the odds to defeat last year’s K-League Grand Finalists in the first round of the Tongyeong Cup.
As expected, Incheon moved the ball around with class and flair but it was Roar who had the best early chances when they exploited the square Korean defence with their pace and clever movement.
On the half hour Fitzsimmons crashed a header onto the bar after Jonti Richter forced a corner with a goal-bound right-footed drive.
Local hero Hyuk-Su Seo, who was a revelation for Roar this season, almost delighted his followers moments later but his 20-metre shot was well saved by Kim in the Incheon goal.
Happy with his team's efforts at half time, coach Bleiberg urged his side forward after the break and the move paid dividends just before the hour.
A short corner on the left hand side was whipped in by Matt McKay to the lurking Remo Buess who headed back across the goal. Josh McCloughan helped the ball on towards the far post and Fitzsimmons ghosted in to volley home well from close range.
Roar were well on top at this stage and threatened to increase their lead when Reinaldo hit the bar with a deft 25-metre chip. Trialing defender, Jung-Soo Kim was solid at the back, but it was his defensive partner Josh McCloughan who came to Roar's rescue , clearing off the line from a seemingly impossible angle as Incheon pressed for the equaliser.
Willis saved spectacularly at the death to maintain Roar's advantage and the Queenslanders held on comfortably to record a famous win against one of Koreas's top sides with a result that is sure to raise eyebrows in Korean football.
Queensland Roar: Willis, Seo, Gibson, McCloughan, Buess, Murdocca, McKay, Richter, Brownlie, Fitzsimmons, JS Kim,. Subs: Higgins, Smits, Griffin, Reinaldo, Caravella, T. Simpson, SI Kim.
Roar next take on Chinese Super League outfit Beijing Hyundai on Saturday (11.30am Kick-off) and complete the tournament against Korean K-League team Daegu FC on Monday (2.00pm Kick-off).
THE QUEENSLAND ROAR DIDN"T EVEN MAKE THE A-LEAGUE FINALS.
Qantas Socceroos Alex Brosque and Spase Dilevski will join the squad in Korea following their commitents against Bahrain
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AUSTRALIA! to be the first asian team into the world cup! 
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you going to the final ? should be huge and great for the sport in this country.
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