Swansea City pummels QPR 5-0


Korean football star Park Ji-sung started with his new team Queens Park Rangers, wearing the captain’s armband on Saturday, but his debut was tarnished by a crushing defeat.

Park played the full 90 minutes against Swansea City, which romped to a 5-0 win over the Rangers in their first match of the English Premier League 2012-2013 season.

The 31-year-old midfielder worked very hard and held on to the ball fairly well as he shuttled between defense and offense, but came up short in beefing up the defensive frailties of his side.

The Rangers, which had raised expectations with signings including the former Man United midfielder, disappointed their fans with the season-opening rout.

On the opposite side, however, Swansea City won their first ever match on the Rangers’ home field, Loftus Road, and ended a seven-year wait for an opening day win.

Though almost equal in terms of ball possession, QPR allowed a series of goals once its defense crumbled.

Miguel Michu of Spain made an impressive debut at Swansea, scoring in the eighth and 53rd minutes. The first goal was a powerful 23-meter shot of a loose ball from a Rangers defender.

Down one goal, QPR kept up their pressure with Jamie Mackie and Junior Hoilett attempting goal shots, which were either blocked or went wide.

QPR’s defense began to wobble early in the second half, following the Spaniard midfielder’s second goal in the 53rd minute.

Nathan Dyer added to QPR’s woes with his goals in the 63rd and 71st minutes. In the 36th minute of the second half, substitute Scott Singclair scored the fifth goal.

Elsewhere in the league, Park’s compatriot Lee Chung-yong of Bolton played against Burnley for the full time in their opening match. Bolton lost 2-0.

Lee’s first goal opportunity came in the 22nd minute in the middle of the goal area. However, Lee slipped up with a shot past the post. Lee started Saturday after being sidelined since July last year for the rehab of his broken right leg.

Two other Korean footballers, Park Chu-young of Arsenal and Ji Dong-won of Sunderland, sat out as their teams played each other in a match that ended in a goalless draw.

Meanwhile, Arsenal moved Park to the No. 30 shirt, while giving his former No. 9 to newly signed Lukas Podolski. Generally, starters are given numbers under 20.

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