Argentina 4 – 1 South Korea: Sad Performance from South Korea
Argentina started their World Cup campaign on a winning note in Group B as they defeated Nigeria 1-0. The score line may suggest that it was a closely contested match, but in reality the South Americans were comprehensive in their victory. However, it was revealed on Tuesday that Gabriel Heinze’s winning goal that came via a header was illegal, as a foul had been committed in the build-up to that goal. Nevertheless, the result stands and Diego Armando Maradona’s side remained on three points. Today though, the former world champions took on Asian giants South Korea in a match that could decide their qualification for the second round. The Koreans defeated Greece 2-0 in style and Argentina were aware of the Asian powerhouse’s potential. But Argentina themselves gave a good impression of their abilities in their win against Nigeria and it seemed likely that they would look good during this game, and truly the did. They did a magnificent job, defeating the South Korean Kung Fu Masters 4 – 1. What an exciting game this turned out to be.
Like Argentina, South Korea too made a winning start to their World Cup campaign as they got the better of Greece 2-0 in Group B. In a match that saw just one side play all the football, the Asian giants exhibited their class and quality as the Europeans failed to do anything but play boring, ineffective football. The Koreans were, in fact, top of Group B on goal difference after that win and they were eager to remain in pole position but could not cling to that position after a fairy poor performance against Argentina today.
It took an unfortunate own goal from Park Chu-young to give Argentina the lead in the beginning, and with the momentum, Gonzalo Higuain soon made it two. For periods of the first half, Argentina played some wonderful football and would have fully deserved their two-goal advantage at the interval, only for Martin Demichelis to make a huge error, allowing Lee Chung-yong to reduce the arrears. Largely unflustered, Argentina countered their exposed opponents late in the day, with Higuain rounding off two fluid moves.
Starting on the front foot, the Argentines cut an impressive force in the early stages of the encounter. Angel Di Maria was making good headway frequently down the left, while Lionel Messi was causing menace for the Asian outfit too. It was Di Maria who was first to arrow an effort towards goal, but his effort was well over the top. Gonzalo Higuain soon followed suit when he shot haplessly high from an acute angle. Despite an upbeat beginning, the South Americans hadn’t really posed a massive threat on goal when they finally took the lead. A free kick from Messi was delivered into the box, where the ball was missed by a couple of heads at the near post only to clatter off Park Chu-young's shin and into the net.
Ki Sung-Yong responded quickly with a shot from an unlikely distance that had Sergio Romero briefly worried, but the Celtic midfielder’s effort flew a couple of feet over. This proved a rare foray as Argentina continued to push in a forceful manner. Just before the half hour mark Carlos Tevez fizzed a fine drive marginally off target. Higuain would ultimately be the man to double the Albiceletes’ advantage, converting with his head from six yards after Messi and Maxi Rodriguez had combined to play a corner short.
For a period the floodgates threatened to open as Jung Sung-ryong had to react sharply at his near post before watching a simply sumptuous piece of play by Messi conclude with a clipped shot that drifted by his left upright. Immediately before the break, Martín Demichelis gifted South Korea an unexpected route back into the match, dallying in possession and allowing Lee Chung-yong to pinch the ball from his toe before advancing to clip by Romero.
Half-time gave Diego Maradona’s side the opportunity to compose themselves after the unexpected blow. Argentina were losing their moment, but Messi’s driven long range free kick, which was designed ideally to get a head flick, beat everyone before being claimed by the South Korean custodian, who needed to dive to his left. Just as the Taegeuk Warriors seemed to be getting a foothold in the game, they were struck a fatal blow with quarter of an hour to play. A slick Argentine counter was led by Messi down the left, and though the Barcelona striker had his first effort kicked away by the goalkeeper and saw his follow-up from a tight angle hit the post, the ball bounced kindly for Higuain, who tapped home from close range to seal the point.
Less than five minutes later, Higuain had completed a memorable hat-trick. Late in the day a weaving run from Aguero nearly resulted in another stunning goal from a tight angle, but Argentina had to settle for four goals. Maradona’s side are now all but through, needing only Nigeria to take something from Greece later on Thursday to secure their passage into the last 16.
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