Uruguay secured a 4–1 victory over South Korea in an international friendly on September 28, reversing a 3–1 defeat to Japan just four days prior. The decisive win in Seoul ended an eight-match winless run and marked the first victory for manager Diego Forlán in his debut stint. Darwin Núñez scored twice to break a goal drought lasting since June 2024, while South Korea managed a lone reply through Son Heung-min.
Match Turning Points and First-Half Deficit
South Korea fell behind early at the Seoul World Cup Stadium as Uruguay seized control before halftime. Núñez opened the scoring in the 13th minute before Giorgian de Arrascaeta doubled the advantage in the 27th minute. A 43rd-minute own goal by Kim Min-jae extended the deficit to three goals before the break. Núñez added his second strike of the match in the second half, leaving South Korea chasing the game before Son Heung-min converted an 80th-minute consolation goal to finalize the 4–1 scoreline.
Uruguay Rebounds from Japan Setback
The convincing performance stood in stark contrast to Uruguay’s previous outing on September 24, when late goals conceded against Japan resulted in a 1–3 defeat. Korean outlet Best Eleven reported that the subsequent result left the South American side trading “dark expressions” for broad smiles. The victory ended a 17-match scoreless streak for Núñez in national team colors and halted a team-wide winless sequence that had stretched across eight fixtures.
Managerial Impact and Future Fixtures
Forlán secured his first win since taking charge of the national team, relieving early pressure following his opening-match defeat against Japan.
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