Uruguay's players celebrate while South Korea's cha Du-ri lies on the ground after Uruguay beat South Korea 2-1 in their 2010 World Cup Round-of-16 match at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, Saturday.
The miracle in 2002 was not repeated for South Korea. With the sound of a game-ending whistle, worn-out players fell to the ground simultaneously in a pouring rain, and in despair.
South Korea's World Cup campaign came to an end in the first knockout stage with a 2-1 defeat to Uruguay Saturday at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
Eight years ago, the country allowed a first-half goal to Italy in its Round-of-16 match, but claimed a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the end as a last-minute goal by Seol Ki-hyeon leveled the score and Ahn Jung-hwan headed a golden goal in extra time.
Such a surprise, however, didn't happen again this time. Lee Chung-yong scored in the second half, but the East Asian side couldn't get over the two goals by Luis Suarez as it succumbed to the Group A winner, also stretching its no-win skid against the South Americans to five games.
For Huh Jung-moo's squad, it was still a successful run against all odds. In spite of a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Argentina, the team beat Greece and Nigeria in its Group B competition to secure a berth to the next round, the first time at an overseas tournament.
This is the second time that South Korea qualified in the first round in its eight World Cup appearances, since the 2002 campaign that brought the Taeguk Warriors to the semifinals on home turf.
South Korea nearly took an early lead four minutes into the match, as Maxi Pereira fouled Park Ji-sung near the far-left side of the box. Park Chu-young's free kick, however, hit the left post and went off.
However, it didn't take more than four minutes before Uruguay made the first goal.
A cross by Diego Forlan from the left flank founded an unmarked Suarez on the opposite side as Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong's clearing effort came late. Suarez made no mistake in fire it home.
Efforts by South Korea to strike back were not successful before halftime. Park Chu-Young's long-range drive in the 31st minute went a bit wide to left, and Cha Du-ri's shot four minutes later flew over the crossbar.
Another Park Chu-young free kick on 44 minutes hit the wall and fell to Cha, who unleashed another effort that went over the woodwork once again.
South Korea's trademark tough pressure worked from early minutes into the second half, successfully keeping the fatigued-looking opponent's attacking at bay, before Lee's goal finally tied the score in the 73th minute.
Ki Sung-yueng sent a free kick from the left flank. Diego Lugano's clearing effort rebounded to an inrushing Lee, who nodded it into the net past Lugano and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.
Huh Jung-moo's squad seemed to fuel the dominance on the pitch after the equalizer, but Uruguay hit back sharp counterattacks. Suarez and Forlan knocked on the Korean side in the 73rd and 74st minute with a header and a drive, respectively, both of which failed to find the post.
A Forlan corner in the 80th minute, however, gave his team an aspired winner. It was rebound to Nicolas Rodeiro, then sent to Suarez, who beat Kim Jung-woo and curled it into the far right post past Jung's diving effort.
Desperate Koreans kept pushing their way onto the opponent's side, and it could have led to another equalizer seven minutes later.
Park Ji-sung's brilliant through ball found Lee Dong-gook up front for a critical one-on-one situation. The striker's left-footed shot, however, was not strong enough to go past Muslera.
Manager Huh bid his gratitude to his boys, as well as an apology to the team's supporters back home.
"I'm sad now, but the players will be in worse pain in their heart," Huh said in a tearful face. "We dominated most of the match, but allowed several easy chances to the opponent."
"Uruguay was a good team. We did our best and will accept the result as it is," Lee said after the match. "But I feel sorry about the match. We had a lot of chances after the equalizer but failed to add another goal. My goal means nothing without the team's win."
Credits :Koreatimes,korea net,PCNB,
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