SOUTH Korea did Asian soccer proud with a magnificent fighting finish against European giants Spain in Dallas which brought them a point in a 2-2 Group C thriller - thanks to two goals in the last five minutes.
And it must also have helped their own cause as they bid for the right to stage the World Cup in 2002. A deadly battle has been joined with the Japanese for the biggest prize available in soccer and it will go on relentlessly until 1996.
That is when FIFA will decide on an Asian venue for the first tournament in the 21st century and those last ditch goals at the Cotton Bowl may yet have a bearing on this vital issue.
The Koreans were impressive and they could become the first Southeast Asian side to reach the second phase of the World Cup finals - while arch rivals Japan must remain at home thinking of what might have been, had an incredible late goal not brought rank outsiders Saudi Arabia to America in their place.
South Korea's on-field performances in previous World Cup forays have been marked by total determination and an uncompromising attitude that suggests defeat is not definite until the final whistle.
Although Spain were reduced to 10 men when Miguel Angel Nadal was rightly sent off early in the game, they went 2-0 ahead just after the interval through veteran strikers Julio Salinas and Juan Goikoetxea, the 29-year-old Barcelona player who has been an important member of the team's last four league-winning sides.