Poise overcame power on Saturday in Port Elizabeth as South Korea turned in a sharp, sophisticated performance to win 2-0 over a plodding, predictable Greece.
From the opening whistle, the Greeks looked out of sorts and discombobulated. They paid the price early when Lee Jung-Soo gave the Koreans a lead in the 7th minute, cleaning up a freekick from the left side. Manchester United star Park Ji-Sung cemented the victory in the 52nd minute on a solo effort after a dreadful giveaway by the Greek defense.
The Taegeuk Warriors used their superior speed and World Cup experience—they have now won three World Cup openers in a row. The Greeks, on the other hand, looked as inexperienced as they actually are. Greece are making only their second World Cup appearance and first since 1994. They have now conceded 12 goals and scored none in four World Cup matches.
The opening goal came after a silly foul near the corner flag set up a South Korean freekick. Ki Sung-Yung whipped a cross into area, and Angelos Charisteas failed to get his head on it, allowing Lee Jung-Soo to easily knock home the first goal.
Greece’s attempts to mount any kind of attack were continually thwarted by a tight South Korean defense, which then orchestrated several electric counterattack. In the 28th minute, Park Ji-Sung played a ball in behind the Greek defense for Park Chu-Young, but the Monaco striker’s shot was kicked away by goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas.
A few minutes after halftime, South Korea doubled their lead. A giveaway by Greek defender Loukas Vyntra in his own half allowed Park Ji-Sung to speed in on goal. The ManU midfielder did well to ride off one challenge and calmly flipped his shot over the advancing Tzorvas.
In the 64th minute, Park Chu-Young had a chance to put the game out of reach, but he put his header from close over the bar. And in the 86th minute, Lee Chung-Yong fired a shot just wide from about 12 yards.
In the end, though, South Korea didn’t need the third goal. They are now in great shape to advance to the knockout stage, something they were unable to do in 2006.
South Korea continue their group play against Argentina on June 17. On the same day, Greece face Nigeria.
South Korea: Jung Sung-Ryong; Lee Young-Pyo, Cha Du-Ri, Cho Yong-Hyung, Lee Jung-Soo; Park Ji-Sung, Yeom Ki-Hun, Ki Sung-Yong (Kim Nam-Il 75’), Lee Chung-Yong (Kim Jae-Sung 91’); Kim Jung-Woo, Park Chu-Young (Lee Seung-Yeoul 87’)
Greece: Tzorvas; Seitaridis, Papadopoulos, Torosidis, Vyntra; Karagounis (Patsatzoglou 46’), Katsouranis, Tziolis; Charisteas (Kapetanos 61’), Samaras (Salpingidis 58’); Gekas
