Cornthwaite the hero as Aussies win
Late call-up Robert Cornthwaite was the unlikely hero with an 87th-minute winner Wednesday as Australia enjoyed a confidence-boosting 2-1 friendly win over South Korea.
Defender Cornthwaite, who plays for K-League side Chunnam Dragons and was only brought into the squad after a series of injuries, pounced on a loose ball in the box to complete a come-from-behind victory in Hwaseong.
Australia have had just one win in four games in the final round of World Cup qualifying, but they will enjoy their success which came through Nikita Rukavytsya, who cancelled out Lee Dong-Gook's early strike, and Cornthwaite's late winner.
South Korea had climbed to the top of their qualifying group, and they looked on course to see off one of their biggest regional rivals after Lee Dong-Gook volleyed Lee Seung-Gi's cross past the diving Mark Schwarzer on 11 minutes.
But Australia evened things up moments before halftime, as Rukavytsya converted a Tommy Oar pass from the right side of the box.
Both sides began the second half slowly before the game opened up in the final 20 minutes. In the 70th, Hwang Jin-Sung's diving header bounced right at Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
Two minutes later, visiting captain Lucas Neill nearly put his side ahead, but Kim Young-Kwang in the South Korean goal kept out his close-range header. At the other end, Schwarzer was equal to another volley from Lee Dong-Gook.
When Australian substitute Tom Rogic's hard, left-foot strike in the 84th went right at Kim in goal, the teams appeared to be headed for a draw.
But in the 87th minute, Cornthwaite capitalised on a mad scramble deep in the South Korean penalty area, when Eli Babalj's shot after a free kick hit the right post and bounced off goalkeeper Kim.
As the ball rolled along the goal line toward the opposite post, the unmarked Cornthwaite stepped in and calmly put it in the back of the net.
Australia's next World Cup qualifier is at home against Oman on March 26, while South Korea will host Qatar on the same date.
