GROUP H / DAY 1
The Uruguayans crashed two balls off the post in an even game with few chances
In bursts and with wet gunpowder. Uruguay and South Korea, with a very similar game proposal, signed a draw in the first match of the only group that was yet to start in Qatar, the H. Neither the Charrúas displayed the nickname of their coach, ‘Tornado’, nor the Asians of the nickname with which they are known, ‘Taeguk Warriors’. In fact, the game, except at specific moments, was soporific.
0
Uruguay
Sergio Rochet, Martin Caceres, Diego Godin, Josema Gimenez, Mathias Olivera (Viña, m. 78), Federico Valverde, Mathias Vecino (De La Cruz, m. 78), Rodrigo Bentancur, Facundo Pellistri (Varela, m. 87), Darwin Nunez and Luis Suarez (Cavani, m.63).
0
South Korea
Seung Guy, Kim Jin Su, Kim Min Jae, Jung Woo Joung, Hwang In Beom, Son Heung Min, Lee Jae-sung (Son Joon-Ho, d. 75), Kim Moon Hwan, Hwang Ui Jo (Cho Gue-Sung). , m. 75), Na Sang Ho (Lee Kang-In, m. 75), Kim Young Gwon.
The Korea of the Kims – all the defense and the goalkeeper who jumped into the Education City Stadium have the last name of that – began more incisive. Son, the Tottenham player, became the catalyst of the Asian game in the three-quarter zone against a Uruguay that had not yet met. With Matías Vecino as the first man in the pressure to unload Suárez – one of the old rockers of the team along with Godín and Cavani – from that mission and Darwin Núñez somewhat leaning to the left, the light blue did not finish finding himself.
Diego Alonso’s men, seeing that they could not generate play under Korean pressure, opted for plan B; long balls. And the Atlético defender, José María Giménez, became the main supplier to his teammates. First, a pass from him to Valverde allowed ‘Pajarito’ to issue the first warning at 19 minutes and then another move to the Pellistri area ended with a cross from him that neither Suárez nor Núñez managed to finish off. Wet gunpowder.
However, the most interesting part of the first half came in the final stretch. First –minute 34– a high shot from the Olimpiacos striker, Hwang, for South Korea and then –minute 42– a Godin header that crashed into the base of the post after a corner kick, recalling the best years of the Uruguayan as a mattress. After the resumption, the panorama did not change. On the contrary, the game was more bland and stuck.
Not even Cavani’s entry for the late Luis Suárez in the 63rd minute changed the scenario. But, as things are, once again it was Uruguay that had the clearest opportunity to tip the balance. This time it was Valverde, the best man on the field, who, in one of his usual long shots, crashed the ball into the wood again. Wet gunpowder and tie to nothing. Uruguay and South Korea have a lot to improve in one of the groups, a priori, more even in the World Cup.
