Golden Ahn slays Italy
FIFA recalls when the Lord of the Ring played a central role in a three-goal trilogy to kill off Italian hopes at Korea/Japan 2002.
Korea/Japan 2002 | Round of 16 Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon Attendance: 38,588 Korea Republic goals: Seol Kihyeon (88), Ahn Junghwan (117) Italy goal: Christian Vieri (18)
Coach: Guus Hiddink. Starting XI: Lee Woonjae; Kim Taeyoung, Hong Myungbo, Choi Jincheul; Song Chonggug, Kim Namil, Yoo Sangchul, Lee Youngpyo; Seol Kihyeon, Ahn Junghwan, Park Jisung. Substitutions: Hwang Sunhong for Kim Taeyoung (63), Lee Chunsoo for Kim Namil (68), Cha Duri for Hong Myungbo (83).
Coach: Giovanni Trapattoni. Starting XI: Gianluigi Buffon; Christian Panucci, Mark Iuliano, Paolo Maldini, Francesco Coco; Cristiano Zanetti, Damiano Tommasi, Gianluca Zambrotta; Alessandro Del Piero, Francesco Totti, Christian Vieri. Substitutions: Gennaro Gattuso for Del Piero (61), Angelo Di Livio for Zambrotta (72).
1 Italy win 0 draw 0 Korea Republic wins
Three-and-a-half decades after 'the dentist' had performed surgery on Italy’s 1966 FIFA World Cup™ hopes, 'The Lord of the Ring', residing just to the south, scripted a fantasy all of his own to again eliminate the Azzurri.
While their neighbours to the north of the 38th parallel had been largely unknown on their arrival in England, the 2002 co-hosts were brimming with young talent that would go on to enjoy fine careers. Even so, this was a Korean side that had failed to progress from the group stage at their five previous attempts, up against a three-crown Italian outfit that had reached the last eight or better at five of the six tournaments proceeding the first to be held in Asia.
If there had been questions as to how Italy would fare defensively in the absence of the injured Alessandro Nesta and the suspended Fabio Cannavaro, inquiry wasn’t needed as to the threat a potent attacking force featuring Del Piero, Totti and Vieri posed.
It was the latter of that trio, the Australian-raised, cricket-loving Vieri that smacked a Totti corner straight past the stunned defender Song Chonggug, stationed at the near post but more spectator than sentry.
That opening goal came near on a quarter of an hour after Ahn had seen his early penalty saved low to his right by Gianluigi Buffon. On that occasion it was Christian Panucci, the son of a postman from Savona, that conceded the spot-kick.
Two minutes from the end of regulation time and with Italy’s lead intact, Panucci failed to show his father’s verve for dealing with delivery, misjudging Hwang Sunhong’s cross to allow Seol Kihyeon to sweep home from adjacent to the spot and send the contest to extra time.
There, Totti collected a second booking to become the 16th of 17 players shown red at the tournament and in the 117th minute, Ahn became the third of just four to score a golden goal at the global finals.
On the books of Italian side Perugia, although for not much longer, the flowing-locked line leader rose to nod home a deep Lee Youngpyo cross and seal a dramatic late win for the jubilant hosts.
Wheeling away to, as he always did, kiss his wedding band, 'The Lord of the Ring' had gained redemption for his earlier penalty miss and delivered an evening of sleepless bliss to the Land of the Morning Calm.
“I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a really special match for me and my country. No one believed we could beat Italy. I think you just need to look at our preparation, the way we played. Hiddink made us a strong team physically and psychologically and we weren’t scared of anyone.” Ahn Junghwan, speaking on the 20th anniversary of the win
“I have no intention of paying a salary to someone who has ruined Italian football.” Perugia owner Luciano Gaucci on his decision to terminate Ahn’s contract
When Buffon got down low to his right to thwart Ahn it became the first time that a nation had missed two penalties in the same edition of the World Cup. That after Lee Eulyong had earlier failed to convert against USA during the group stage.
Ahn’s golden goal was the third such occurrence in the World Cup. Ilhan Mansiz’ strike for Türkiye four days later would be the final time it happened.
Paolo Maldini made it 2,217 World Cup minutes by playing every second of Italy’s campaign. This surpassed the 2,052 minutes Lothar Matthaus racked up, despite the German going to one more tournament and participating in two more matches than the Italian. Lionel Messi broke Maldini's minutes record in 2022.
Having grown up from the ages of 4-14 in Sydney, Vieri retains both a thick Australian accent and fond memories of some well-known TV shows from that time, including the long-running soap opera Neighbours.
Following his central role in eliminating the Italians, Ahn famously had his contract with Perugia terminated but would go on to enjoy a successful club career in Japan, France, Germany and China.