South Korea present metal in World Cup stalemate with Uruguay

AL RAYYAN, Qatar: In a match with loads of grit however missing a match-winning slice of guile, South Korea held Uruguay to a goalless draw, the fourth of this World Cup.

On the Schooling Metropolis Stadium in Al Rayyan on Thursday (Nov 24), Paulo Bento’s males confirmed no indicators of being overawed in opposition to opponents ranked 14 rungs forward of them within the FIFA rankings.

Two-time world champions Uruguay (14th on this planet) have been semi-finalists in 2010 and quarter-finalists in 2018. 

Banging on drums and waving mini flags, the South Korean followers roared their group on because the gamers hunted down possession and harried their opponents.

South Korea would dominate the early exchanges and style their first probability from a nook within the seventh minute.

Nevertheless, a Son Heung-min set-piece would elude all of his teammates.

His face shielded by a black protecting masks, the Tottenham Hotspur ahead and South Korea captain had initially been a doubt for the recreation.

Son sustained a number of fractures round his left eye three weeks in the past and has been coaching in Qatar carrying a black protecting masks.

The Asian aspect would proceed to dominate play as the primary half wore on however have been let down by a poor ultimate ball on quite a lot of events.

Uruguay opted for a extra direct method within the 14th minute as a protracted ball discovered Actual Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde. Nevertheless, his half-volley whistled over.

The identical method virtually paid dividends minutes later. Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez tried get a toe on a Uruguay cross, however failed to attach.

The perfect probability of the primary 45 for South Korea fell to Hwang Ui-jo after good work on the precise by Kim Moon-hwan. However Hwang contrived to shoot over and will have finished significantly better.

Then Uruguay got here inside inches of equalising as veteran defender Godin thumped a header onto the foot of the submit simply earlier than halftime.

Godin is that includes at his fourth World Cup, together with Luis Suarez, Martin Caceres Fernando Muslera and Edinson Cavani.

That is South Korea’s tenth consecutive World Cup finals, and so they have performed in 11 tournaments. Their greatest end was on the 2002 version the place they reached the semi-finals as co-hosts.

However they are going to have their work minimize out for them on this event, being in a bunch which additionally incorporates Portugal and Ghana.

CONCERN FOR SON

Because the South Korean followers exerted their vociferous dominance within the stands, there was a hushed second of concern within the second half as Son went down.

Defender Martin Caceres was booked, whereas Son was helped to his toes to heat applause.

The groups’ paths have crossed twice beforehand on the World Cup – Uruguay profitable each video games, 1-0 in 1990 and 2-1 in 2010.

Of their earlier encounter, South Korea confronted Uruguay within the spherical of 16 and have been eradicated by a Suarez double.

However this time spherical, the ineffective Suarez lasted lower than 60 minutes,  and was changed by veteran striker Cavani.

However simply as Suarez did, Cavani was decreased to chasing shadows up high, as Uruguay laboured.

Nunez would come the closest 10 minutes from time, however he despatched a left-footed shot despatched extensive.

There was an opportunity to Uruguay proper on the loss of life however a Valverde effort from vary crashed off the submit.

South Korea will subsequent face Ghana on Monday (Nov 28), whereas Uruguay will go head-to-head with Portugal. 

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