Al Rayyan (Qatar): Uruguay faltered of their World Cup opener in opposition to a energetic and energetic South Korea after they had been held to a 0-0 draw on Thursday in a contest the place each groups struggled to search out the medical edge regardless of loads of attacking high quality on present.
Clear-cut possibilities had been uncommon for both facet within the Group H conflict on the Schooling Metropolis Stadium and though Uruguay created extra alternatives, neither staff managed a shot on the right track.
Uruguay captain Diego Godin was denied by the woodwork whereas South Korea ahead Hwang Ui-jo blasted over the bar with the objective at his mercy, leaving each groups to rue missed possibilities.
There have been only some hundred South Korean supporters in attendance however they made sufficient noise to drown out Al Rayyan and had been chanting away all through the competition, the beat of their drums matching the quick and frenetic tempo of play.
“We’re a really courageous staff, we’re not afraid of our opponents,” South Korea coach Paulo Bento advised reporters.
“The underside line is we have to management all moments of the sport, realizing we’re in a special competitors to our qualifiers. However this may not maintain us again from what we intend to do. And we confirmed right this moment we’re succesful.”
South Korea’s Kim Seung-gyu and Kim Younger-gwon after the match. Picture: Reuters/Bernadett Szabo
Uruguay’s first sight of objective got here within the nineteenth minute by Federico Valverde, who related with Jose Maria Gimenez’s move and took a contact earlier than firing a half-volley in the direction of objective, however his formidable try went simply over the bar.
The South Individuals had begun to search out their footing when South Korea, having been patiently controlling the primary half to this point, disrupted their rhythm and launched a counter-attack from a Uruguay nook earlier than the half-hour mark.
Son Heung-min picked up the ball on the left flank and reduce inside, skipping previous two Uruguay defenders earlier than curling a right-footed effort in the direction of objective, however left again Mathias Olivera was capable of clear it away.
South Korea ought to have taken the lead within the thirty fourth minute when Moon-hwan Kim fizzed the ball into the penalty space and into the trail of Hwang in entrance of objective, however the ahead couldn’t preserve his composure and despatched it over the bar.
Hwang’s teammates fell to their knees after his miss they usually had been nearly made to pay for it simply earlier than the break when centre again Godin rose highest to energy a header from Valverde’s nook but it surely bounced off the left submit and away from objective.
Gimenez made a vital deal with to disclaim Son 5 minutes after the restart following a flowing transfer from South Korea, whereas Jung Woo-young blocked midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur’s highly effective strike on the different finish.
Uruguay noticed extra of the ball and seemed harmful as the sport wore on however discovered few possibilities to interrupt by an organised Korean defence. Ahead Darwin Nunez was a risk on the counter along with his tempo however endured a irritating afternoon.
Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani fights for possession. Picture: Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach
Uruguay supervisor Diego Alonso swapped one stalwart for one more when he changed Luis Suarez with Edinson Cavani after 64 minutes and the striker was a energetic presence, nearly connecting with Nunez’s fizzing shot which flew extensive.
Valverde unleashed a thunderbolt within the last minute of regulation time that struck the highest of the submit and Son had one last likelihood within the closing levels however dragged his shot extensive.