Ki keeps ball as Swans substitute in his first regular league match


Victory remained elusive for Park Ji-sung at Queens Park Rangers, after it lost its English Premier League match 3-1 against Manchester City on Saturday.

The 32-year-old, wearing the captain’s armband, was industrious throughout the match at the Etihad Stadium Saturday.

QPR manager Mark Hughes positioned Park at left midfield, suggesting a more attacking role from him than in his first two games.

Throughout the match, Park linked up with forward players well with precise passes, and even tempted Kompany into fouling him, but fired no shots on target. 

The visitors allowed the first goal in the 16th minute of the first half which defending champion Manchester City dominated completely.

Carlos Tevez struck David Silva’s cross from a corner, but his shot was blocked. Then Yaya Toure latched onto a loose ball and powered it home with a left-foot strike, handing City the lead.

QPR equalized in the 14th minute of the second half. Andy Johnson let off a powerful drive, which City goalkeeper Joe Hart parried away, but Bobby Zamora reacted quickly, heading in from close range.

Just two minutes later Man City crushed the spirit of the visitors as Edin Dzeko, starting for the first time this season, headed in Tevez’s cross. In stoppage time, Tevez diverted the ball home from Dzeko’s shot, putting the win beyond doubt.

QPR is still chasing its first league win, having been crushed by Swansea City 5-0 in the season opener on Aug. 18 and drawn against Norwich City 1-1 on Aug. 25.

Meanwhile, Park’s compatriot midfielder Ki Sung-yueng of Swansea City played his first Premier League match against Sunderland at Liberty Stadium Saturday.

Ki came on for Miguel Michu in the 79th minute, but made no shots on goal.

In the 71st minute, with the score tied at 2-2, Swansea’s Chico Flores was sent off for a reckless tackle and manager Michael Laudrup needed a stable defense with 10 men.

Laudrup brought Ki on in place of Michu to help his side keep the ball and avoid conceding a third goal.

Ki refrained from pushing forward hastily, focusing instead on ball possession through stable passes, but contributed to a move that saw his team come close to getting a third goal late on.

Swansea City drew with Sunderland 2-2.

Korean striker Ji Dong-won of Sunderland sat out the game as an unused substitute.

Another Korean midfielder Lee Chung-yong of Bolton Wanderers in the second-tier Championship played his fourth straight game against Hull City but failed to score. Bolton lost 3-1.

By Chun Sung-woo (swchun@heraldcorp.com)