Japanese media has praised South Korea for its first victory in the World Cup soccer finals over Togo.

The daily Asahi Shimbun on Wednesday put a front page photo of South Korean fans cheering their team in downtown Seoul, saying the stellar play of strikers Ahn Jung-hwan and Park Ji-sung attested to the team's successful run in the 2002 tournament.

Another daily, The Mainichi Shimbun, called Ahn "the hidden card," saying he knows the World Cup well.

Sankei Sports also said South Korea's decisive play was more desirable than that of Japan Monday.