Group H of the 2022 World Cup opened with a nil-nil draw, the fourth in the tournament, as Uruguay and South Korea shared the spoils at the Education City Stadium.
Diego Alonso’s Charrua selection had more quality on the pitch but the Koreans are a tough cookie. The result was a very balanced game where Luis Suarez and co came closer to breaking the deadlock but were ultimately held by Paulo Bento’s Tigers of Asia in a reenactment of a World Cup 2010 Round of 16.
The Koreans resorted to ball possession and were more active at the start, while the Charrua tried to catch them by surprise with long balls. From one of those long-range passes, the first chance for Uruguay came as Facundo Pellistri served Darwin Nunez in the box but the Liverpool talent failed to connect with the ball.
On 26 minutes, Mathias Olivera was picked with a fine filtering pass but the Korean goalkeeper blocked his incursion. Uruguay grew more confident by the minute and, right before the break, created their most dangerous chance as the eternal Diego Godin headed the ball right into the post from a corner kick action.
Korea also had an opportunity to open their scoring account. Hwang Ui-jo brutally squandered it, sending the ball crashing into the stands of the Education City Stadium from an incredibly favorable position in the middle of the box.
The second half opened with a spectacular José Maria Giménez defensive clearance to block Seo Heung-min in the box, a duel between two absolute world class players.
The best chances for La Celeste came again from Nunez. On 62 minutes, he dashed along the left flank and whipped in a sharp low cross that could have become a problem for the Koreans, had goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu not caught it. On 80 minutes, he curled the ball from outside the box but sent it narrowly off target.
Federico Valverde hit the post with a terrific strike from 25 meters, then his goalkeeper Sergio Rochet offered Son a chance for a shot, serving him with a mistaken pass while building up the play for Uruguay. Luckily for him, the Tottenham man’s conclusion also sailed off target.
Korea ended the game with little fuel in the tank but their wall held. Both sides will have to put their qualification chances at stake in the second match.
MATCH SCORECARD
November 24, 2022 – FIFA World Cup Group G
URUGUAY – SOUTH KOREA 0-0
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URUGUAY (4-3-3): Rochet; Caceres, Godin, Gimenez, Olivera (79′ Vina); Valverde, Bentancur 6, Vecino (79′ De La Cruz); Pellistri (88′ Varela), Suarez (64′ Cavani), Nunez (Muslera, De Arrascaeta, Sosa, Torreira, Gonzalez, Coates, Torres, Canobbio, Ugarte, Rodriguez) Coach: Alonso |
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SOUTH KOREA (3-5-2): Kim Seung-gyu; Kim Moon-hwan, Kim Min-jae, Kim Young-gwon, Kim Jin-su; Hwang In-beom, Jung Woo-yeong, Lee Jae-sung (74′ Son Jun-ho); Na Sang-ho (74′ Lee Kang-in), Hwang Ui-jo (74′ Cho Gue-sung), Son Heung-min (Yoon Jong-gyu, Paik Seung-ho, Hwang Hee-chan, Song Bumkeun, Hong Chul, Kwon Kyung-won, Jo Hyeon-woo, Kwon Chang-hoon, Kim Tae-hwan, Cho Yu-min, Jeong Woo-yeong, Song Min-kyu) Coach: Paulo Bento |
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Caceres (U), Cho Gue-sung (K); Added Time: 1st Half 1′, 2nd Half 7′
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