Chile astonishingly blew a 31 point second half lead on Saturday, losing to South Korea. Having been 36-7 ahead Los Cóndores bombed the match, losing 38-26 in Santiago. Los Cóndores’ capitulation not only cost them the match but also the series.
The result of this match could not be predicted. Not only had Chile won the first test 30-12 but Los Cóndores were also 20-0 ahead at half time in game two.
Chile’s strong start in the second test match saw No 8 Nikola Bursic scoring in the 8th minute. Francisco Gonzalez Moller added the conversion and added a second nine minutes later. Chile’s second try was scored by center Felipe Brangier.
The second quarter opened with Chile maintaining their stranglehold on the match. Winger Tomás Ianiszewski crossed for number three. His 23rd minute score would be the final score of the opening half.
Five minutes after the try Chile took its first hit of the match. Left winger Juan Pablo Larenas was badly injured and forced off. He was replaced by Pablo Casas who earned his 8th cap.
It took Los Cóndores just two minutes of second half play to extend their lead. Ianiszewski went over for a second time. South Korea hit back almost immediately. Flanker Kang-San Choi scored the first points for the Asians. Replacement Jae-Hyuk Ryu added the extras.
Fullback Rodrigo Fernández replied for Chile. His 47th minute score was well converted by González Moller. The 31-7 lead grew in the 56th minute when Ianiszewski completed his hat-trick. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
South Korea responded through Jun Hee-Lim. The replacement prop burrowed over in the 59th minute. Ryu added the conversion, his second of the afternoon. With an hour played Chile was 22 points clear but the large number would prove to be insufficient.
The flood gated opened eleven minutes from full time. Winger Hang-Yul Park stole the show. The left winger scored a hat-trick, with all tries coming in the final eleven minutes. His 69th, 73rd and 78th minutes made the impossible possible.
Meanwhile Chile’s structure was in self-destruction mode. Replacement second-rower Martín Sigren was yellow carded in the 78th minute. With a one-man advantage South Korea was able to score again, to seal the most unlikeliest of comeback victories. Jae Bok Lee went over for the final minute score and Ryu added the conversion to crush Los Cóndores’ hearts.
SCORERS
CHILE
Try: Bursic, Brangier, Ianiszewski (3), Fernández
Conversion: González Moller (3)
Yellow Card: Sigren
SOUTH KOREA
Try: Choi, Lim, HY Park (3), JB Lee
Conversion: Ryu (4)
CHILE
1 Claudio Zamorano, 2 Tomás Dussaillant, 3 José Tomás Muñita, 4 Francisco Hurtado, 5 Mario Mayol, 6 Cristóbal Niedmann, 7 Javier Richard (capt.), 8 Nikola Bursic, 9 Beltrán Vergara, 10 Francisco González Moller, 11 Juan Pablo Larenas, 12 Ricardo Sifri, 13 Felipe Brangier, 14 Tomás Ianiszewski, 15 Rodrigo Fernández
Replacements: 16 Manuel Gurruchaga, 17 Iñaki Gurruchaga, 18 Lucas Bordigoni, 19 Martín Sigren, 20 Eduardo Orpis, 21 Juan Pablo Perrotta, 22 Pedro Verschae, 23 Pablo Casas
SOUTH KOREA
1 Young-Ki Song, 2 Jeep Kim, 3 Dong-Won Shin (capt.), 4 Dae-Young Yang, 5 Jin-Seok Lee, 6 Yong-Seung Lee, 7 Kang-San Choi, 8 Soon-Chai Park, 9 Ki-Chul Shin, 10 Jae-Bok Lee, 11 Hang-Yul Park, 12 Nam-Wook Kim, 13 Seong-Min Jang, 14 Youn-Sik Jung, 15 Yong-Heung Jang
Replacements: 16 Tae-Hyun Kang, 17 Jong Ryul Park, 18 Jun-Hee Lim, 19 Min-Soo Son, 20 Ji-Hoon Yoo, 21 Myung-Jun Lee, 22 Jae-Hyuk Ryu, 23 Jung-Ho Moon
Chile Blow 31 Point Second Half Lead in Shocking loss to South Korea
