by D. Victor

Created on: June 12, 2010

Group B opened with a low-key match-up between AFC side South Korea and Euro 2004 champions Greece. Football analysts regarded both team as outsiders in a group that included South American powerhouse Argentina and African powerhouse Nigeria. This fixture took place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth. Given the Greeks' lack of experience in World Cup Finals, South Korea had the edge from the outset. The Asian side proved to be stronger than their European counterparts were, as they emerged 2-0 winners.

The match started brightly with Greece getting a splendid opportunity to open the scoring off a corner kick in just the third minute of the game. South Korea showed the Greeks how to do it by putting the ball in the back of the net in the seventh minute of the game; Lee Jung-Soo was the scorer. Greece offered little in terms of attacking flair and the South Koreans were successful in limiting their opponents' shots on goal and shots on target. When the first half ended, the Koreans had a 1-0 lead heading into the second half.

At the start of the second half, South Korea struck early, with Park Ji-Sung slotting home from close range after taking advantage of a defensive lapse by the Greeks and running into the penalty area. In the 52nd minute of play, South Korea was 2-0 ahead. The Greeks were unable to adjust their mindset to seriously trouble the Korean goalkeeper. There was a chance for them to get one back in the latter stages of the match, but even then the shot on target was straight at the keeper and tipped over the bar.

The match was very predictable in terms of style of play. The Koreans were quick, fit and well organised. Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung is a world-class player whose impetus allowed the Koreans to dominate in the attacking third. The Greeks were typically defensive, but this was because they lacked good attacking options as opposed to having a deliberate defensive strategy. They were unable to break down the Korean defence and suffered because they did not have the players capable of keeping the ball in the South Korean half for extended periods.

Korea had 17 shots at goal, with four being on target. Greece only had six shots at goal, two of which were on target. Ball possession was even between the two sides; the only area that the Greeks dominated was corners (11-6). Group B's opening match was not as poor as the Uruguay-France disaster of the previous day, but it was not the greatest exhibition of football because of the ineptitude of the Greeks. South Korea leaped ahead in Group B and from the way the Greeks played, it could be a straight contest between South Korea and Nigeria for the runner-up spot.

 

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