Match Review & Highlights: Uruguay 2 – South Korea 1

A proper opening to the knockouts is what we wanted and it’s definitely what we got – even if it was played under a deluge of rain and there were more people on the pitch than in the stands by the end of it.

Uruguay nabbed the victory late but it was an excellent show and the winner of Ghana v US is in heaps of trouble in the quarterfinals. The South Americans pressed, scored, went into their defensive shell, conceded when Fernando Muslera was a bit too rambunctious, exited their defensive shell and simply scored again. They played as almost three teams under poor pitch conditions and looked very impressive for much of the game.

Though maybe not heavy favorites, Uruguay were the much fancied team heading into this one. So when Luis Suarez tucked a free ball into the side netting in the eight minute, it looked like South Korea were in very big trouble.

Uruguay 1-0 South Korea
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And since it was a one goal win, you could say it was very big trouble – they lost on their own fault as the ball trickled across the six with no one caring to clear.

From there, Uruguay slowly descended into their more defensive shape with the only real test of the opening set a South Korean free kick nicking the woodwork. It was after the half that the game was turned on its head – largely due to the droves of rain pouring down on the stadium. The pitch, which was losing patches as though it had a bad case of mange even without the rain, was soaked and the wind wasn’t making things much better.

South Korea pressed and looked much more impressive while Uruguay looked less assured in defense, if even slightly so. Then the equalizer came when Muslera came out for a ball he couldn’t get and Lee Chung-Yong headed it into the back of the net.

Uruguay 1-1 South Korea
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But what happened next was one of the more impressive things we’ve seen this tournament: Uruguay just flipped the switch and put South Korea on the back foot with the same personnel, commanding possession mere seconds after sitting on a lead, and causing havoc in the South Korean box. It took ten minutes, but they got their goal from a patented Luis Suarez curler off the post and into the net, which he celebrated by trampling South Korea’s photography team.

Uruguay 2-1 South Korea
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A brilliant goal, but their switch from defense to attack in quality was stunning. It really is the hallmark of a very, very good football team. One that deserves to be in the quarterfinals – their first since 1970 – and surely will have whichever opponent they face next trembling in their boots. They might just be a darkhorse to nab their third title…

[Vids: TVGolo]