The team progressed to the final of Peace Cup 2005 following a 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad in Ulsan on Thursday.

We finished level on points with Boca Juniors but went through on goals scored.

Boca beat Sundowns by a 3-1 scoreline, but managed one less in Group B than ourselves with a total of six. We now face Lyon at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Sunday's final.

Martin shuffled his pack, giving Marton Fulop a pre-season opportunity in goal, while the defence remained unchanged from the 3-1 victory over Sundowns on Monday. Michael Carrick returned to the midfield fold and captained the side, with Jermain Defoe and Mido taking over from Fredi Kanoute and Robbie Keane in attack.

Wearing our new change strip of blue and yellow, the team's early attacking intentions ran into something of a midfield road block as the centre of the pitch became a bit congested. A Carrick free-kick did just about find the head of Calum Davenport on six minutes but his flicked effort skidded wide.

After a moderately uneventful first 18 minutes, Teemu Tainio unpicked the Sociedad rearguard with a dinked ball over the top perfectly measured for Mido to latch onto. The striker duly did but ran out of space in his attempt to round keeper Riesgo. From the resulting corner there was a little penalty area mayhem and Anthony Gardner came closest to working a clear opening.

Captain Aitor Lopez was becoming increasingly influential in the middle and a raking crossfield ball so nearly picked out the run of the South Korean Lee Chung Soo before he took shooting responsibility on himself with a powerful drive on 24 minutes. A whipped corner just over 10 minutes later caused a bit of concern and it took a smart snap header from Stephen Kelly to avert the danger.

It is probably fair to say the first half was not the most inspiring of the competition so far and it would also been true to say that Sociedad were in the ascendancy for most of it - without particularly coming close to hurting us.

So it was not a totally accurate reflection on the play when, on 41 minutes, Defoe capitalised on some uncertainty in the Sociedad back line and was taken out by keeper Riesgo. The referee waved play on and Mido slotted the ball home to make it 1-0.

There was more misery piled on two minutes later when former Sheffield Wednesday striker Darko Kovacevic powered through into the area before being halted by an Erik Edman block. The Serbian international went to ground appealing for a penalty and it appeared the referee had made the award, but instead waved a second yellow card at Kovacevic, ending his evening's work and leaving Sociedad with 10 men for over half the game.

However, the second period got off to the worst possible start for us when Lopez chipped the ball into the area to tee up Alonso - brother of Liverpool star Xabi - and it took a brilliant block by Edman to deny him. Unfortunately, in attempting to clear the ball from danger, the grounded Edman flicked the ball in the direction of De Paula who steered the ball into an empty net.

Fulop then had to show his athleticism to tip over a goalbound lob from Prieto, before Mendes was forced to clear a Da Silva header off the line.

Sociedad were dominating as news came through that Boca Juniors were 2-0 up on Sundowns.

The boys began to claw their way back in and Tainio switching to centre following the introduction of Reid was beginning to tell. The Finland international set Defoe off on a sprint and the striker did well to hold off his marker but his shot was deflected wide.

Another chance fell the way of the England striker on 65 minutes when Routledge played him in, but his effort was a bit tame and easily fielded by Riesgo. Martin then elected to send Keane into action with Mido making way, Aaron Lennon not far behind in place of Routledge.

Tainio came close on 75 minutes after good work from Defoe as the balance of the game began to swing in our favour. Keane was next to come close with a gilt-edged chance presented to him by Defoe, but the ball ran away from the Irishman and his shot crashed into the side netting. Tainio then teed Keane up again with a chip over the top but his first time effort was hit straight at the keeper.

Both teams sought a winner - Marney coming closest - but a draw as just about right on the night in front of 24,435 in Ulsan.