The national soccer team lost 1-0 in an exhibition game to visiting Chile on a cold Wednesday night at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

The loss spoiled the first game of new Korea coach Huh Jung-moo, who is leading the team for the third time. He fielded a fairly inexperienced squad, missing England-based stars Lee Young-pyo, Park Ji-sung and Seol Ki-hyeon.

Gonzalo Fierro March fired home a blast in the 54th minute to score the game’s only goal for Chile.

Soccer’s world governing body FIFA recently lowered Korea’s ranking from 41st to 45th, and the loss extended Korea’s goalless streak to 506 minutes dating back to the Asian Cup last year.

The team will play Turkmenistan Wednesday next week in a World Cup qualifier, and is expected to have most of its starters for the game.

[Photo : ]