EURO 2012
Polandia - Ukraina
Polandia
Yunani
Rusia
Republik Ceko
Belanda
Denmark
Jerman
Portugal
Spanyol
Italia
Republik Irlandia
Kroasia
Ukraina
Swedia
Prancis
Inggris
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Luis Suarez scored a spectacular
7:11 PM
The South Koreans, who reached the semi-finals in 2002, were effervescent in their attacking third but flaky in defence, and that was exposed as early as the eighth minute.
But apart from a penalty appeal when Alvaro Pereira's shot appeared to be blocked by the arm of Ki Sung-Yueng, it was the South Koreans who looked most likely to score for the remainder of the match as Uruguay set up camp in their own half.
Many of South Korea's good chances fell to star striker Park Chu-Young who was feverishly looking to add to his goal against Nigeria in the group stages.
And it could have been Uruguay chasing the game as early as the fifth minute had his free-kick curled three inches to the left rather than rattle Fernando Muslera's right-hand post.
The Monaco forward also went close with a fizzing 25-yard effort that swerved two yards wide before smashing a half-volley over the bar from inside the area after the break, when he should have made the Uruguay number one at least flinch.
But the South Koreans' luck finally changed for the better on 68 minutes when, from a free-kick, Bolton's Lee Chung-Yong pounced on Mauricio Victorino's attempted headed clearance, to nod in from eight yards.
It was the first goal Uruguay had conceded in the tournament and they came close to conceding a second when Lee Chung-Yong failed to put any venom into his shot inside the area after he was beautifully played in by captain Park Ji-Sung.
With the rain now teeming down inside the Port Elizabeth venue, it appeared that a mistake rather than a piece of skill would win the game - but the quality of 23-year-old Suarez ensured that the match would be remembered for something out of the top drawer.
With 10 minutes remaining, the potent Ajax forward lurked on the fringes of the 18-yard area as a corner was swung in from the right. He cut in from the left before curling in as sweet-a-strike as any in the tournament so far to leave keeper Jung Sung-Ryong rooted as the ball clipped the post on its way in.
The South Koreans pressed and should have taken the game into extra-time, but substitute Lee Dong-Gook's weak shot squirmed under the wet jersey of Muslera before it was comfortably cleared.
Uruguay will now play Ghana in the last eight after the Black Stars beat second round opponents the United States 2-1 after extra-time.
Uruguay
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2-1 |
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FT |
| Suarez, 8, 80 | (HT 1-0) | Lee Chung-Yong, 68 | |
Team |
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Uruguay
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Korea Republic
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Korea Republic
Friday, June 25, 2010
Korea Republic will face Uruguay in the last 16
1:55 AM
South Korea will face Uruguay in the last 16 of the World Cup after a hard-fought draw with Nigeria was enough to secure second place in Group B.
Nigeria created chances throughout and took the lead when Chidi Odiah squared for Kalu Uche to tap in early on.
But South Korea hit back through Lee Jung-Soo, who scrambled the ball past Vincent Enyeama from Ki Sung-Yeung's free-kick.
Park Chu-Young's curled free-kick restored South Korea's lead four minutes into the second half but Yakubu coolly slotted in a penalty after Kim Nam-Il fouled Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke to level the game.Nigeria started the game looking like a different proposition to the side that produced disjointed displays in their defeats by Argentina and Greece.
Lars Lagerback's side finally showed purpose on the break and kept the ball well in midfield with the main catalyst being the coach's decision to hand captain Kanu a first start of the tournament.
Despite the 33-year-old veteran reaching the twilight of his career, a combination of his sublime skills and familiar laid-back style both calmed and inspired his team-mates in equal measure.
However, when Nigeria took the lead after 12 minutes, it was not Portsmouth striker Kanu but the impressive Odiah who was creator.
Odiah was given too much space on the right flank and burst down the line before crossing to the edge of the six-yard box, where the unseen Uche got in front of oblivious right-back Cha Du-Ri and stroked past the goalkeeper.
Nigeria could have doubled the lead but Obasi Ogbuke slammed a strike wide when he should have squared to one of four team-mates in the box, while Kanu once again linked play delightfully when he played in Uche, whose 25-yard strike clattered against the right post.
However, Kanu's impact alone was not enough to hold the South Koreans as the 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists began to pick up the majority of the loose balls.
South Korea eventually levelled when Lee Jung-Soo was left unmarked at the back post and awkwardly bundled in Ki Sung-Yeung's cross.
And the stuffing was further knocked out of Nigeria minutes into the second half when Park Chu-Young's free-kick from the left somehow curled past goalkeeper Enyeama and into the corner.
South Korea began to capitalise on tired Nigerian legs as Chu-Young smashed a free-kick wide and had a close-range effort saved by Enyeama.
But as the momentum of the game swung once more Nigeria had a glorious chance to get back into the game, only for Yakubu to incredibly side-foot wide from four yards out when confronted by an open goal.
However, redemption came quickly for the Everton striker and when substitute Kim Nam-Il felled Ogbasi Ogbuke in the area, Yakubu calmly stroked the penalty into the right corner.
A frantic final 20 minutes ensued as both sides missed chances but the draw was enough for South Korea to progress and leave Nigeria as the third African team to exit the tournament after South Africa and Cameroon, who still have one game to play.
Nigeria |
2-2 |
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FT |
| Uche, 12 Yakubu (pen), 69 | (HT 1-1) | Lee Jung-Soo, 38 Park Chu-Young, 49 | |
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Team |
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Nigeria
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Korea Republic
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Substitutes:
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