Uruguay captain Diego Godin and Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde came closest to breaking the deadlock when hitting the woodwork in each half
The returning Son Heung- min couldn’t inspire South Korea as the Barracuda of Asia started their World Cup Group H crusade with a 0- 0 draw against Uruguay in Qatar on Thursday. Uruguay captain Diego Godin and Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde came closest to breaking the impasse when hitting the woodwork in each half, while Hwang Ui- jo wasted Korea’s stylish chance, skying a shot from 10 yards out with only the goalkeeper to beat. It was a game of many chances as neither Son on one side nor Uruguay’s fearsome strikers Luis Suarez, Darwin Nunez and Edinson Cavani could find a clear opening.
With matches against Ghana and group favourites Portugal to come, both sides sounded to be more intent on not losing than pushing for the palm at the Education City colosseum in Doha. Both trainers were satisfied with the point.
“This was a veritably good match from our side, we were better in the first half, we had numerous moments where we controlled the match,” said Korea’s Portuguese trainer Paulo Bento.
“After half- time we weren’t at our stylish, we suffered a bit because they’re high quality players but we also did well in that situation and conceded veritably little.”
Uruguay’s Diego Alonso added” It was a good game, a tight game with two competitive nations.” The first half, especially the first 20 twinkles we plodded, we could not get the ball off them.
“But it was good that we were suitable to acclimate latterly and we dominated the alternate half.”
The early part of the match settled into a predictable pattern as Korea made a fast launch and Uruguay sat deep, soaking up the pressure without giving anything down. In particular, the South Americans kept Korean peril man Son quiet.
Uruguay created the first clear chances as two combing crossfield balls from centre- reverse Jose Maria Gimenez picked out runners coming in at an angle.
Valverde cropped the first over the bar, while Nunez failed to make proper contact on the alternate from just eight yards out with the thing at his mercy. Just past the hour mark, Korea should have been in front after a slick end move opened up the Uruguay defence but unmarked 10 yards out, Hwang fired the ball high over the bar. Godin also went closest to scoring when he hit the inside of the post with a title from Valverde’s outswinging corner.
Neither side could get their game changers into the match, with Son easily not completely fit, playing his first match since surgery on a broken bone around his eye suffered at the morning of the month against Marseille in the titleholders League.
” He was inactive for a considerable quantum of time, he could only restrict our platoon in the last many days,” said Bento of Son’s restrained performance.” It’s natural that after an injury. it’ll take him some time to readapt.”
On the other side, Suarez, Uruguay’s all- time record goal scorer, was a supplemental figure and was replaced by fellow stager Cavani interior through the alternate period.
Korea decreasingly looked to have settled for a point but trainer Paulo Bento brought on addict-favourite Lee Kang- in to fit some energy and craftiness into a drooping side.
Uruguay, however, remained the more dangerous side and Cavani teed up Nunez who fired just wide. Korean hearts were in their mouths when Valverde crashed a long distance strike off the upright, before Son shot wide up the other end as both sides had chances to win it in injury time. Know More News…
