Argentina v. South Korea 4-1 17/Jun/10

Second Round, Third Game, Group B, Day 7. (18 of 64)


Hat-tricker Higuaín on the spot.
[Photo: EPA via Telegraph]


Three goals from the Madrid forward seemed to be enough to oust a naïve team of South Korea. Even when they knew of what they were capable of against Greece in the first game, Jung Moo's men were unable to repeat the feat due to the fact that the gigantic (metaphorically speaking) and scoreless playmaker Lionel Messi played an influential part in all goals this evening at Soccer City. In the first game of the day one could have expected so much from the wretched and slow Argentinian defence; even when a goal conceded seems to give them no difference at all it could prove worth for future opponents in the following phase.

The already-qualified Americans will face Greece in the last day of competition in group C at Polokwane in the 22nd. One must expect the inclusion of a B team, in the search for the perfection of nine points while the Koreans must deploy all their effective arsenal to reach the following stage.



Messi tries to lob.
[Photo: AP via Telegraph]


During large chunks of the game Messi tried to either assist or grab a goal. In one of this instances he won a freekick through which Argentina took the lead. Strangely the offensive threat poised by the Argentinians in that particular set up was quite weak nevertheless the deflection provoked by Chung Young costed the Koreans the goal. Probably the Koreans did not plan suffering the lead in that way.

Things did not look quite positive for Jung Moo's team since many of the mistakes that led to that free kick were exploited by the talent of that Barcelona player. Again, Argentina's 10 was participant in the second goal: Maxi crossed after a quick corner and Burdisso deflected the ball to find a lonely and eager Higuaín, who did not miss, in the 33th minute. Di Maria had an outstanding effort saved by Ryong just minutes before the Korean goal.

A minute before the break Chung Yong made amends to give his team a glimmer of hope which turned out to be a vast, grand kick in the following half. The goal was the sole fault of Demichelis who failed to control the ball; although the rest is history the slow reaction from the defence was a surprise to some.


In the next part Ryon Jung became a factor for the Korean team since many of his saves, such as an Higuaín and a Tévez shot, prevented Messi and others to score. Before the third goal, certainly due to the offensive prowess the Koreans enjoyed from the 60th minute onwards, Maradona's pupils had a troublesome period in which Hun Yeom missed a clear chance against Romero.

The following minutes, from the 75th, were a feast for Messi, when he and Kun combined to give the Barcelona striker a clear shot on goal that hit the post. Marksman Higuaín was there to put it in as the Argentinians led by two goals. A similar play gave them the three-goal lead in which Agüero set Higuaín who headed without hesitation. Another great run by the Atlético forwards in the final minutes nearly broadened the panorama, since the Koreans eagerly tried to score in the other end.