Italian club fires Korean hero

Italian club Perugia has sacked Ahn Jung-hwan after he scored the winner for South Korea against Italy.

Perugia coach Serse Cosmi doesn't hold a grudge against Ahn, but says there are too many forwards at the club and he'd prefer to retain an Italian.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Gaucci said: "Enough! That guy (Ahn) will never again set foot in Perugia!

"I am not going to pay the salary of a guy who has been the ruin of Italian soccer," it quoted him as saying.

The club's offices were closed and officials could not be reached for comment.

Ahn has been on loan to the Italian club from K-League club Busan since the start of the 2000-2001 season, but has rarely made the starting 11 in two seasons.

His golden-goal winner in the 117th minute against the three-time champion Italians atoned for a missed penalty in the fourth minute and two other failed shots on goal.

Ahn said: "When I missed a penalty at the start of the game, I was crying inside ... it felt like the sky was crumbling down on me. I thank the coach the most for letting me in the game."

After the goal, "I couldn't hear anything. I was just still for a few seconds, I couldn't speak."

Ahn said his experience in the Italian domestic league had prepared him for the big occasion at the World Cup.

"Although we won on my goal, I think I should thank Italy," he said.

"I didn't play much, (but) I've learned a lot and had tough times during my two years in Italy. I think that has helped me play good matches in this World Cup."