So, the Last 16. It was a rather dreary start to next stage, but I hoped that Korea would beat the South Americans, but these guys are just too good. South Africa just gave them a boost of confidence when they lost so sorely to them. Suarez might be a diver, but he scored a beautiful goal. And so Uruguay became the first team to enter into the quarters.
Goal Scorers: Lee Jung-soo, Park Chu-young [K] & Kalu Uche, Ayegbeni Yakubu [penalty]
Nigeria needed to win this one with a marginal goal difference, but they didn't. It is awful, because it is yet another disappointing performance by an African team, but I think the Taeguk Warriors were the better team to go through. This is a first for the South Korean team, who have never advanced beyond the group stages away from home soil. S.Korea now find themselves facing Uruguay in the next round, and I do hope they will win that one!
Although the Super Eagles put up a fight, with the continent rooting for them, they scored two goals but the Koreans matched them, largely due to poor defense. Yakubu's missed an incredible sitter, resulting in their exit from the 2010 soccer world cup.
We would have died to win tonight; we tried so hard. No one can say we didn’t. Kanu on Nigeria's exit
Goal Scorers: Chu Young Park [own goal], Gonzalo Higuain [A] hat-rick & Chu Young Park [K]
The first hat-trick in the World Cup goes too... Gonzalo Higuain! Get your stripes ready, Albiceleste are going to win the trophy. Maradona's team did it, and now the road to last 16 seems clear. These are the teams that we want to see dazzle, and I still want to see a Messi goal. Although the genius created dazzling passes leading to goal, he failed to hit one in himself.
The first point, was an own goal by S.Korea's Chu Young Park, and then Gonzalo. The Real Madrid forward found his first goal after 33 minutes, easily heading in a cross from Rodriguez, after the ball had been flicked on as Korea set up an ill-advised offside trap.
Although they are the most impressively talented team here, they sometimes seem a bit uneasy. They need to get comfortable, and then they will be able to have resounding wins over the big teams.
The Asians pulled one back, when Lee C scored a goal seconds before halftime. It came after a terrible mistake by defender Martin Demichelis, who was unaware that Lee was just behind him. According to Lionel Messi, the vuvuzelas caused the defender to not hear their warning shouts, he also said that he had lost a couple of balls the same way.Argentina celebrated Higuain's second goal on 76 minutes, and on 80 minutes completed his hat-trick with cries of jubilation from the fans.
Maradona wearing his striking grey suit, earning him many more fans said: A headline to sum up today’s game? ‘Argentina were implacable.’
S. Korea became the first team to win a match in the 2010 world cup, triumphing over the Greeks, 2-0.
They played easy, flowing soccer. The Greeks did not provide much resilience, and the Koreans were seemingly the most comfortable and confident of all the teams so far.
