LONDON (AFP) - Pim Verbeek insists South Korea are on course for their first Asian Cup triumph in almost 50 years after watching his side defeat European champions Greece 1-0.

The Red Devils have already ensured progress to this summer´s tournament after a comfortable qualifying campaign, but they are now under pressure to turn their obvious talents into palpable rewards.

Verbeek´s team have already been installed as the bookies´ favourites for the Asian Cup, due to be held in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand in July, and the Dutchman believes his squad will thrive under the pressure.

"We still have quite a long time to go until the tournament starts but we have always said that we will go to that competition to win it," he said.

"We are one of the top teams in Asia so we should be looking to win tournaments like this.

"We only have two games of preparation left so that it is why it was so important for me to see some new players tonight, because we do not have time to try many other people.

"We had some new players doing well and they have given me many more possibilities for the summer."

Verbeek reserved special praise for his match-winner against the Greeks, Lee Chun Soo, who capped a busy performance by curling in a magnificent 20-yard free-kick in the 77th minute.

The 25-year-old had been on the verge of a move to the Premiership with Wigan Athletic last month, only for the deal to collapse just before the end of the transfer window.

A clutch of scouts were in the stands at Fulham´s Craven Cottage, and they will have noted his performance - and goal, in particular - with interest.

"It was not the first time he has scored a goal like that," Verbeek added. "He scored a fantastic free-kick against Togo in the World Cup last year and I´m sure he will score many more.

"But his whole display was extremely good: he was playing more as a shadow striker rather than a winger and I was very pleased with what he contributed.

"I think he was keen to prove something tonight because his transfer to Wigan fell through at the last moment and he wanted to show people that he is a very good player, which he is."

Lee Chun Soo was easily the Koreans´ best performer in a largely disjointed performance. They had come close to forging ahead at the end of the first half when Manchester United´s Park Ji Sung headed against the post, but for the most part Antonios Nikopolidis, the Greek goalkeeper, was a disinterested spectator.

Indeed, Greece should have gone ahead in the 36th minute when a deep low cross caused pandemonium in the penalty area. Kim Young Dae, the South Korea goalkeeper, somehow scrambled the loose ball away from Sotirios Kyrgiakos and then saved brilliantly from Theofanis Gkekas´ close-range drive.

Stelios Giannokopoulos, the substitute, then headed against the crossbar early in the second half and the Bolton midfielder´s sense of injustice was compounded when he saw an injury-time equaliser chalked off for offside, although South Korea´s boisterous contingent in the 9,242 crowd were not complaining.

"It was a very difficult match," Verbeek admitted.

"It was tough for our defence because the Greeks played a lot of long balls into the box and we had to cope with that but we did a good job. There were moments when we were lucky but it was an interesting game.

"My players are very happy to win here. They had to fight to the last second and if we can win games like this, it bodes very well. It was a fantastic night: I loved the stadium, the atmosphere, everything."

The night´s only sour note was sounded with seconds remaining, when two Greek political protestors sprinted onto the pitch brandishing a banner. They were eventually apprehended in the centre-circle and frog-marched off by stewards.