Uruguay does not impose its trade on the emerging Korea

Uruguay does not impose its trade on the emerging Korea

The two-time world champion has the best chances from Darwin Núñez and Valverde, but it is not enough to beat the South Koreans

MADRID, 24 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Uruguay and South Korea drew goalless (0-0) in the first match of Group H at the Qatar 2020 World Cup, played at the Education City in Doha, in a match in which the Uruguayans had the best chances, with two posts from Godín and Valverde, but in which they could not impose their trade on emerging Asian football.

The planned script: speed against order. Uruguay put Fede Valverde's touch of the ball and the knowledge of the game of a group with many matchdays in the curriculum of the Godín and Luis Suaréz, the incombustible leaders of a team that yearns to emulate the triumphs of the middle of the last century. Korea, the vertigo of its star Son and the audacity of his youth.

A long pass from Atlético José María Giménez to his neighbor Fede Valverde, control and rapid shooting by the Real Madrid player, was able to put Diego Alonso's charges ahead shortly after (min. 18) after fifteen minutes, when the Uruguayan team dominated and his rival looked like easy prey.

The failed double opportunity by Darwin Núñez and Luis Suárez shortly after and the ferocious start of Matías Olivera, who missed the final pass to Núñez, confirmed that Uruguay was the master of an all-or-nothing fight, in which the ball jumped in one go. area to the contrary with hardly any transition through the center of the field.

In this context, Korea turned Uruguay's initial dominance and took possession of the ball, moved closer to Rochet's goal and also had a high shot from the penalty spot by Olympiakos striker Hwang Ui-Jo to achieve that first goal. initial of an even cast.

As in those glorious times at Atlético, Diego Godín rose from a corner kick launched by Valverde to crash his header into the post almost at the end (min. 43) of a first half of alternatives, as Uruguay ended up closing in on their rival Asian who seemed to take a breather.

The two-time world champions took advantage of that inertia after the break. Edison Cavani replaced an unprecedented Luis Suárez in search of the long-awaited goal that was still closer to Uruguay, although a triple substitution by the Portuguese coach Paulo Bento again leveled a match that seemed doomed to a draw.

A shot that missed the thread from Darwin Núñez, in the 80th minute, and a dry lash from Valverde, who crashed into the South Korean squad in the 89th minute, did not change the fate of a game that ended in the Asian area and in which the trade and self-confidence were balanced. Uruguay will face Ronaldo's Portugal, and Korea will face Ghana, next Monday in search of that first victory in Qatar.

URUGUAY: Rochet; Caceres, Gimenez, Godin, Olivera (Vine, min. 79); Neighbor (From the Cross, min. 79), Bentancur, Valverde; Pellistri (Varela, 88th minute), Suarez (Cavani, 64th minute) and Darwin Nunez.

SOUTH KOREA: Kim Seung-Gyu; Moon-Hwan, Min-Jae, Young-Gwon, Jin-Su; Woo-Young, In-Beom; Jae-Sung (Junho Son, 74 mins), Sang-Ho (Kangin Lee, 75 mins); Son and Ui-Jo (Guesung Cho, min. 74).

--REFEREE: Clement Turpin (FRA). He admonished Martín Cáceres (min. 57), for Uruguay, and Cho (min. 88) and the coach, Paulo Bento (min. 98), for South Korea.

--ESTADIO: Education City.