By Pearse McLaughlin
In the first match up since the FIFA World Cup in Qatar where both sides drew but ultimately South Korea advanced to the last 16. It is Uruguay who claims a 2-1 victory here at the Seoul World Cup Stadium with the helping hand of VAR as it disallows 2 goals to give Jurgen Klinsmann his first defeat as manager of South Korea.
South Korea manager, Jurgen Klinsmann has kept the same formation 4-4-2 that drew last time out against Colombia 2-2. In his second game in charge of South Korea he has made four changes to their starting line-up as in comes Jo Hyeon-Woo, Lee Ki-Jee, Kang In-Lee, Hwang Ui-Jo to replace Kim Seung-Gyu, Kim Jin-Su, Jeong Woo-Yeong and Cho Gue-Sung.
Uruguay interim manager, Marcelo Broli has also tried to maintain consistency and has stayed with the 4-2-3-1 formation for the second game running. Uruguay have made five changes to their starting line-up that drew 1-1 with Japan on Friday as in comes Santiago Mele, Jose Rodriguez, Joaquin Piquerez, Facundo Torres and Jonathan Rodriguez to replace Sergio Rochet, Giovanni Gonzalez, Mathias Olivera, Facundo Pellistri and Diego Rossi.
First chance of the game comes for Uruguay on the 6th minute, Kim Young-Gwon fails to deal with the ball into the box and heads the ball back into a dangerous area as he lost his bearings. Kim Young-Gwon headed the ball to the edge of the box where Federico Valverde watched the ball drop before firing in a powerful left footed volley which was expertly tipped behind for the corner by Jo Hyeon-Woo.
On the 10th minute the Real Madrid midfielder, Federico Valverde puts a gorgeous delivery in for Sebastian Coates who had the simple task of heading the ball into the back of the net. Terrible defending by South Korea as the zonal marking didn’t work and allowed the 6 ft 6 defender Sebastian Coates to have a free header on the penalty spot. 1-0 to the visitors. Quick start from La Celeste.
Terrific footwork from Kang In-Lee on the 38th minute as he done the La Croqueta skill to get past Joaquin Piquerez with ease before also beating Jonathan Rodriguez down the right-hand channel before somehow digging out a cross that Hwang Ui-Jo couldn’t meet it in the air, but Lee Ki-Jee fired his effort just wide of right-hand post. Terrific effort by Lee Ki-Je who caught the ball sweetly on the angle of the box, but he couldn’t quite guide his half volley into the back of the net. Better from Taegeuk Warriors.
South Korea goes into the break trailing Uruguay 1-0 in what has been a frustrating first half for Jurgen Klinsmann’s men. Uruguay came out the traps flying and created numerous opportunities in the opening period. Their captain Federico Valverde was the main instigator, and he went close himself before picking out his teammate Sebastian Coates to fire his side into the lead. As the half wore on, South Korea grew into the game and got their creative players in Son Heung-Min and Kang In-Lee into the game. But Uruguay defended resolutely, and I expect Klinsmann to make changes in the attacking area as Hwang Ui-Jo has been anonymous.
Equaliser for South Korea courtesy of Hwang In-Beom on the 51st minute. It was Lee Ki-Jee’s ball into the box from the left-hand side which caused difficulties from goal scorer Sebastian Coates who could only divert the cross into the path of Kang In-Lee who showed tremendous composure to pick out the unmarked Hwang In-Beom on the penalty spot who duly dispatched it. Tremendous composure and technique as Hwang In-Beom shows his class as he just side foots the ball first time, and it nestles into the top left hand corner putting Santiago Mele the wrong way in the process. 1-1. Game on.
Uruguay retakes the lead courtesy of a rebound for Matias Vecino on the 63rd minute. Joaquin Piquerez effort from the free kick was well saved by Jo Hyeon-Woo as the ball was destined for the bottom left-hand corner but he could only parry the ball out to the unmarked Vecino. Against the run of the play but one swift counterattack and Uruguay show their quality. 2-1 to Uruguay.
South Korea thought they equalised = through Kim Young-Gwon on the 72nd minute following a flick on by Lee Kang-In from Son Heung-Min’s corner whipped in from the left-hand side. After a lengthy VAR check of over 7 minutes, the goal is disallowed by the officials for handball. It was first checked by the officials for offside, but Kim Young-Gwon was level, it was then checked for a foul on the keeper which it wasn’t, but he did guide the ball off his head and onto his arm. Took far too long to come to the decision but it was the correct one. It remains 2-1 to Uruguay.
Fantastic finish by the super sub that is Oh Hyeon-Gyu on the 84th minute as he controls the ball brilliantly with his back to goal before shifting it onto his right foot and lashing the ball into the top right-hand corner. Unstoppable finish. After a VAR check it is adjudged to be offside and rules out for me a perfectly good goal as Oh Hyeon-Gyu is level. VAR again spares Uruguay’s blushes, and they somehow still lead 2-1.
It's all over here as South Korea lose 2-1 to Uruguay. In what was a match dominated by Klinsmann’s men, but they could break down the pragmatic approach of Uruguay as it was like watching prime Atletico Madrid under the tutelage of Diego Simeone with everyman behind the ball and break up the play constantly.
VAR will be the main talking point from today’s as it denies South Korea anything from the game that they dominated outside the first 10 minutes. The first decision was the correct one to rule out Kim Young-Gwon’s goal for handball but took far too long to come to the decision. The second goal by Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-Gyu was level and wrongly disallowed and robs South Korea of a draw.
South Korea can take a lot of positives from their performance as it is never easy to break down a stubborn defensive side like Uruguay who did to their credit defended superbly but isn’t enjoyable to watch. Interim manager Marcelo Broli has done his chances no harm in being appointed the next permanent manager of Uruguay as he drew 1-1 with Japan and won 2-1 against South Korea which is no easy task as both sides are high energy and have a lot of quality going forward.
Terrific turnout here at Seoul World Cup Stadium as the attendance is 63,952.
South Korea: Jo Hyeon-Woo, Kim Tae-Hwan, Kim Min-Jae, Kim Young-Gwon, Lee Ki-Je, Lee Jae-Sung (Cho Gue-Sung 90+2’), Hwang In-Beom, Jung Woo-Young (Son Jun-Ho 35’), Hwang Ui-Jo (Oh Hyeon-Gyu 70’), Son Heung-Min, Lee Kang-In. Subs not used: Kim Seung-Gyu, Paik Seung-Ho, Song Bumkeun, Cho Yu-Min, Kim Moon-Hwan, Na Sang-Ho, Kwon Kyung-Won, Kwon Chang-Hoon, Song Min-Kyu, Jeong Woo-Yeong, Seol Young-Woo.
Uruguay: Santiago Mele, Jose Rodriguez, Santiago Bueno, Sebastian Coates, Joaquin Piquerez, Manuel Ugarte, Matias Vecino, Facundo Torres (Agustin Canobbio 61’), Federico Valverde, Jonathan Rodriguez (Matias Vina 89’), Maxi Gomez (Matias Arezo 61’). Subs not used: Sergio Rochet, Giovanni Gonzalez, Sebastian Caceres, Felipe Carballo, Facundo Pellistri, Diego Rossi, Diego Hernandez, Gaston Olveira, Mathias Olivera.
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
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