Kim Seung-gyu (bottom), goalkeeper of South Korea, makes a save during the Group H match between Uruguay and South Korea at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
DOHA, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- South Korea managed to pull off a goalless draw against South American powerhouses Uruguay as the two teams kicked off their World Cup Group H fixture here on Thursday.
Both sides built up stringent defense backlines and all attempts by both sides missed the target in the lackluster and somehow friendly game. The only yellow card for players went to South Korea's midfielder Cho Gue-sung in the late 89th minute.
Uruguay hit the post twice through captain Diego Godin's header from an out-swinging corner and Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde's power shot in each half, which came closest to breaking the deadlock. Hwang Ui-jo wasted South Korea's best chance, skying a shot from 10 yards out with only the goalkeeper to beat after connecting Na Sang-ho's cross inside the box.
South Korean forward Son Heung-min, who started the game wearing a mask to protect a broken left eye socket, had just one scoring effort in the closing minutes, which went wide.
Veteran striker Edinson Cavani replaced Uruguay's all-time leading scorer Luis Suarez in the second half.
"This is a competitive match with a very level of play," Paulo Bento, the head coach of South Korea, told the post-match conference.
"I believe we were better in the first half with many moments which we have the capability to do what we want to do," he said, adding that the aggressive strategy of South Korea made the team dominate the first half.
Uruguay manager Diego Alonso agreed with what his Portuguese peer said but insisted that it was his team that lack of the same luck to win the game.
"In the first we couldn't take the ball from them. We did some adjustments in the second half and obviously we dominated much more in the rest of the match," said Alonso.
The two teams had crossed twice at previous tournaments with Uruguay winning both games by 1-0 in 1990 and 2-1 in the round of 16 in 2010.
The draw at Education City Stadium was yet another early World Cup match with the favored team stumbling, mostly with the Asian teams getting involved. Argentina and Germany both lost their opening matches against Saudi Arabia and Japan respectively.
South Korea will next play Ghana on Monday and Uruguay are to meet Portugal in the same day's later fixture. ■
Cho Gue-sung (top) of South Korea vies for a header with Diego Godin (R) of Uruguay during the Group H match between Uruguay and South Korea at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Kim Young-gwon (front L) and Kim Jin-su (front R) of South Korea greet the audience after the Group H match between Uruguay and South Korea at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Kim Seung-gyu (R), goalkeeper of South Korea, makes a save during the Group H match between Uruguay and South Korea at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Diego Godin of Uruguay makes a save during the Group H match between Uruguay and South Korea at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Han Yan)
Facundo Pellistri (L) of Uruguay vies for a header with Kim Jin-su of South Korea during the Group H match between Uruguay and South Korea at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Son Heung-min of South Korea reacts during the Group H match between Uruguay and South Korea at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Edinson Cavani (C) of Uruguay greets the audience with teammates after the Group H match between Uruguay and South Korea at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Han Yan)
Players of South Korea react after the Group H match between Uruguay and South Korea at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
Hwang In-beom (C) of South Korea shoots during the Group H match between Uruguay and South Korea at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Players of South Korea react after the Group H match between Uruguay and South Korea at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Sergio Rochet (top), goalkeeper of Uruguay, makes a save during the Group H match between Uruguay and South Korea at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Han Yan)
