(LEAD) (Asian Cup) With 2nd Asian Cup goal, Lee Jeong-hyeop adds new chapter to improbable story

(ATTN: ADDS comments in paras 10-15, photo)

SYDNEY, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- The improbable success story of South Korean forward Lee Jeong-hyeop became even more so on Monday at the AFC Asian Cup, as the 23-year-old forward scored his second goal of the tournament against Iraq, putting South Korea in the championship final.

Lee headed in the team's first goal in the 20th minute of the 2-0 semifinals victory in Sydney. Lee, who had previously never played in an international tournament, has now scored three times in his first six international matches.

With each goal, Lee makes his head coach Uli Stielike look clairvoyant.

The German-born coach made the unheralded forward his most surprising selection for the Asian Cup roster last month. Stielike said he had watched Lee, of the domestic military club Sangju Sangmu, on five different occasions. He liked what he saw even though Lee only came off the bench when the coach was present.

Stielike passed on injured forwards Lee Dong-gook and Kim Shin-wook, and also left off inconsistent veteran Park Chu-young. He instead opted for Lee, a raw youngster who had never competed for South Korea in any age group.

Lee immediately responded to Stielike's faith, scoring in his first international match against Saudi Arabia in the team's last tune-up match before the tournament's start.

Lee also scored against Australia in South Korea's 1-0 win that clinched it first place in Group A. He slid and barely got his foot across to be credited with the score. If Lee was merely fortunate to get on the board against Australia, his header on Monday versus Iraq came off a textbook set piece play.

Left fullback Kim Jin-su curled a picture-perfect free kick toward the net from the right flank. Lee then used his entire 186-centimeter frame to leap over a crowd of defenders and make contact with the ball. It bounced past the diving goalkeeper Jalal Hassan and into the net.

Lee also set up South Korea's insurance goal against Iraq. In what appeared to be a broken play, Lee trapped a floating pass with his chest and dropped it for Kim Young-gwon, who struck a volley just inside the arc off an Iraqi player and into the net.

After the match, Lee thanked Kim Jin-su for setting up the goal and said he was just fortunate to be at the right place at the right time.

"I don't think I necessarily have a nose for the goal," Lee said. "I often find myself on the receiving end of good crosses. And as a striker, my job is to score on those good passes."

Lee said he's been watching the video of every match he's played, hoping to identify areas in his game that he can improve.

"I've been changing from one game to the next," he added. "I think I've been getting better at playing off my teammates on offense."

He said he was grateful for Stielike's show of faith, adding that he understands he has to play his best every match to justify his place on the squad.

"When we first arrived in Australia, (Stielike) told me to just play my game and he would shoulder all the responsibilities for my performance, good or bad," Lee said. "He always puts my mind at ease, and it makes my life easier at practice and at matches."

Next up for Lee and Co. will be the final on Saturday, as South Korea looks to end its 55-year Asian Cup drought. Finding Lee in the starting lineup should no longer be a surprise by then.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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