WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : South Koreans Wear Down Spain for a Tie : Group C: After Spanish captain Nadal is ejected in first half, Koreans score two goals in final five minutes.

So much for boring soccer.

In a game filled with controversy, intrigue and a dramatic comeback, South Korea did not wait long to stun the soccer world on a steamy Friday evening in Texas.

Playing with a man advantage from the 26th minute, underrated Korea turned a seemingly devastating defeat into a surprising draw, tying Spain, 2-2, before 56,247 at the Cotton Bowl on the first day of the World Cup.

In a most improbable first-round game, Spain once again enhanced its unenviable reputation as a Cup underachiever. It was South Korea’s second draw in nine Cup matches, the first since it tied Bulgaria in 1986. The Koreans have never won in this tournament, but by earning a point in Group C on Friday, they have a good chance of advancing to the second round for the first time.

Spain, meanwhile, expecting to cruise into the second round, needs to regroup if it plans to earn any respect during the next month.

Spain’s demise came about slowly and painfully with temperatures in the 90s, melting the undermanned team in the closing minutes as it gasped for relief. Spain’s fatigued and weakened defenders gave up two goals when their legs could no longer keep up with the pressing Koreans.

Seo Jung-won, a veteran of the 1990 World Cup and ’92 Barcelona Games, tied the score in extra time after Hong Myung-bo beat a Spanish defender and passed to his unmarked teammate inside the penalty area.

“As the pass was coming, I was calm,” Seo said. “I was watching the goalie coming out and my control was good. I was in perfect position.”

Hong scored minutes earlier on a free kick that deflected off the feet of Spanish defenders in front of the goal. The rebounding ball caught goalkeeper Santiago Canizares by surprise.

Although it did not reap any benefits for a long time, Korea’s resurrection began in the 26th minute after a controversial call by referee Peter Mikkelsen of Denmark. Miguel Nadal was ejected after stopping a scoring threat by Ko Jeoung-woon just outside the penalty area.

Nadal, Spain’s captain and perhaps most versatile midfielder, made a hard sliding tackle, but it was questionable whether it was a professional foul, a penalty committed deliberately to stop a striker from getting a clear run on the goal. Such a foul results in immediate ejection.

“The red card slowed down the pace of the game and strategies had to be changed,” said Juan Goikoetxea, a Spanish midfielder.

With Nadal’s absence, Spain lost its presence for the rest of the first half. But spectacular goals in the 51st and 56th minutes of the second half renewed Spain’s verve despite playing a man short throughout.

The first goal came from forward Julio Salinas and some fancy footwork from Spain’s midfielders. Jose Luis Caminero, a second-half substitute, set up the goal by beating the Korean defense inside the penalty area. He sent a nice pass to Goikoetxea, whose crossing pass went to a sliding Salinas in front of the goal.

Inspired by that score, Spain went on the offensive and pressured the Koreans. Finally, Salinas broke free and tried a nice shot that was saved by goalkeeper Choi In-young. But Salinas got the ball back and shot again. It was blocked, but Caminero got the rebound and dribbled to his right. He tried two hard blasts that hit defenders, then crossed it to Goikoetxea after controlling the second rebound. Goikoetxea took the high ball and headed it in behind the outstretched arms of Choi.

Coach Javier Clemente figured the game was in hand and replaced Salinas seven minutes later with Felipe, a younger player whose expertise is defense.

It was a sound move until Fernando Hierro suffered a slight leg injury in the 76th minute and sat down for five minutes before returning. Once dormant Korea suddenly came to life.

“In the last 15 minutes, with Fernando injured, the team just lost its strength,” Clemente said.

It was enough to give Korea a boost.

“We figured we were down two goals, let’s go out and attack,” Seo said. “What have we got to lose?”

As it turned out, nothing.

Clemente said his team was emotionally drained from the experience. Spain uses but one forward in its defense-minded format and usually has little trouble holding big leads.

“They’re demoralized because we had it won,” he said. “They are a bit down, a bit stunned.

“We tried hard but we couldn’t do it and just sank at the end. We had a tough time. We had the match wrapped up and at the end, when we had it in our hands, it got away.”

Clemente said losing Nadal changed the color of the game.

“Playing with 10 men is very tough,” he said. “At the end we were tremendously tired. We couldn’t keep the Koreans out because we simply couldn’t bear the pressure any more.”

Now they will have to endure the pressure of facing an angry nation.

But that’s what soccer is all about.