Canada Global (Web News) Son Heung-comeback min’s failed to lift South Korea, and on Thursday in Qatar, the Tigers of Asia drew 0-0 with Uruguay to open Group H play.
Diego Godin, the captain of Uruguay, and Federico Valverde, a midfielder for Real Madrid, came the closest to ending the score by hitting the crossbar in each half, but Hwang Ui-jo missed Korea’s greatest opportunity by missing a shot from 10 yards out with only the goalie to beat.
Son on one side while Uruguay’s formidable forwards Luis Suarez, Darwin Nunez, and Edinson Cavani were unable to find a clear opening, making it a game very limited chances.
At the Education City stadium in Doha, both teams appeared more focused on avoiding defeat than going for victory because they still had games against Ghana and the group favourites Portugal to play.
The point had satisfied both coaches.
Paulo Bento, the Korean team’s Portuguese coach, remarked, “This was a very good performance from our side. We were better in the first half, and we had numerous instances where we controlled the match.”
Because they are top-notch players, “we were not at our best after halftime, but we also did well in that situation and conceded very little.”
Diego Alonso of Uruguay added: “It was a close battle between two strong competitors.
However, it was fortunate that we were able to correct ourselves and win the second half.
As Korea got off to a quick start and Uruguay sat deep to absorb the pressure without giving anything away, the early stages of the game fell into a typical pattern.
The South Americans in particular kept Son, the Korean danger guy, at bay.
The first real scoring opportunities came from Uruguay thanks to two raking crossfield passes from center-back Jose Maria Gimenez, who found runners advancing at an angle.
While Nunez missed the second shot from only eight yards out with the goal at his mercy, Valverde clipped the initial attempt over the bar.
Just past the hour mark, Korea should have taken the lead after a deft passing play exposed the Uruguayan defence, but Hwang missed the goal from 10 yards out while unmarked.
Godin then came the closest to scoring when he headed Valverde’s outswinging corner just inside the post.
Son, who was playing his first match following surgery to repair a broken bone around his eye sustained at the beginning of the month against Marseille in the Champions League, was plainly not entirely fit and unable to impact the game for either side.
