Anchor: South Korea’s national football team beat China 3-2 in their opening match of the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 Russia World Cup. South Korea are looking to compete in the Ninth consecutive World Cup and are in second place in Group A. 
Our Aram Ro has more.

Report: South Korea managed to clinch a narrow 3-2 win against China in their first match of the final Asian qualifying round for 2018 World Cup.

South Korea got on the scoreboard in the 21st minute thanks to an own goal by China's Zheng Zhi. Son Heung-ming's freekick was headed down by teammate Ji Dong-won, but caught the leg of China's captain to direct the ball towards the back of the net. 

In the 63rd minute, Lee Chung-yong powered in a header and three minutes later Koo Ja-cheol extended South Korea's lead to 3-0, at which point the game looked dead and buried.

However Uli Stielike's side were lucky to survive an onslaught from China who managed to claw their way back into the game with two goals in the span of three minutes.

Yu Hai struck home for China in the 73rd minute and Hao Junmin curled in a freekick in the 76th and China almost came close to third.

After the match, Lee Chung-yong said that he wasn't happy with the result, but was confident he could produce a better performance when his team faces Syria. 

[Sound bite: Lee Chung-yong - South Korean attacker (Korean)]
"Personally, I feel I scored an important goal and I think I can get more confidence from it and better prepare for the match against Syria."

South Korea will face Syria on Tuesday at Paroi Stadium, Malaysia.

South Korea sits in second place after Iran on goal difference in Group A and have nine more games before the final regional qualifiers come to an end.

The winner and runner-up of each of the two groups will qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The two third place teams will have to go through a playoff stage.
Ro Aram, KBS World Radio News.