2010 World Cup: Uruguay v South Korea full time report
Uruguay 2 South Korea 1
A stunning strike from Luis Suarez sealed Uruguay a place in the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1966 at the expense of the valiant South Korea.
Suarez, one of Europe's hottest properties, scored both of the South American's goals in a virtuoso performance to cancel out Lee Chung-Yong's second-half effort.
Many had expected a dominant performance from the Uruguayans; however, the South Koreans gave a good account of themselves in Port Elizabeth and will be disappointed to have lost this match.
Park Chu-Young was a post width away from handing South Korea an early lead when his 25-yard free-kick struck the outside of Fernando Muslera's right-hand post. Uruguay, who hadn't conceded a single goal in the group stages, were left to count themselves rather fortunate after surviving that scare.
Just moments later, at the other end, Suarez found himself in acres of space inside the South Korea penalty area and duly slotted home to give Uruguay a priceless lead at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
However, it was his strike-partner, Diego Forlan, who will deservedly take the credit for the goal. His cross from the right flank was fired dangerously across the six-yard box; but a combination of catastrophic defending and poor goalkeeping from Jung Sung-Ryong certainly played a major part in the goal. Suarez was left with the simplest task of firing the ball into the open net.
Chances were few and far between for the rest of the first half, with Chu-Young going closest for Huh Jung-Moo's side. The Koreans ended the opening 45 minutes on top, and would need to show the same fighting spirit after the break to haul themselves back into the match.
South Korea continued the second half in the same vein as they ended the first. Chu-Young was presented with a superb opportunity to bring his side level when the ball fell to him kindly inside the 18-yard box, but the 24-year-old striker lashed his shot wildly over the Uruguay crossbar.
The 2002 World Cup semi-finalists continued to search for an elusive equaliser and began to dominate proceedings. On the hour mark, captain Park Ji-Sung almost brought his side level, only for his well-directed header to be saved by Muslera.
It was the exact response Huh Jung-Moo would have asked for during his half-time team talk, as his players had the South Americans defending for their lives at times.
Then, in the 67th minute, came the equaliser South Korea had so richly deserved. Maurico Victorino could only guide his header into the air from a free-kick, and after it wasn't dealt with at all by Muslera, Chung-Yong was somehow allowed to nod the ball into the back of the net.
It was the second goalkeeping error of the match, and a goal that Tabarez will have been horrified to have seen his side concede.
Minutes later, Chung-Yong had a glorious chance to complete a shock turnaround after magnificent work by the talismanic Park. However, the goalscorer hit his shot straight at Muslera following a rather tame effort on goal.
With the heavy rain pouring down in Port Elizabeth, a place in the quarter-finals was there for the taking for both sides. It seemed that either a mistake or a moment of magic would seal victory for either side. In the end, it proved the latter.
Uruguay's goalscorer, Suarez, had come to South Africa off the back of a remarkable season with Ajax which saw him notch up 49 goals. But his stunning winner for the South Americans ten minutes before time could well be the goal which seals the 23-year-old a move to one of Europe's biggest clubs over the forthcoming weeks.
A Uruguayan corner was picked up by Nicolas Lodeiro on the left of the penalty area. The midfielder laid the ball off to Suarez, who shuffled around his marker before unleashing a fabulous curling effort into the far corner of Ryong's goal.
It was a goal fit to win any World Cup fixture.
South Korea tried in vain to score another equaliser, and Lee Dong-g**k probably should have provided it three minutes before time; but the two-time world champions held on to book their place in the last eight.
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