Uruguay Edge South Korea in 2nd Round

Uruguay advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time since 1970 thanks to a Luis Suarez brace.

South Korea was defeated 2-1 Saturday, June 26, at a rain-soaked Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, before nearly 30,000 spectators.

The match was a tale of two halves as Uruguay controlled the opening half while South Korea dominated a large portion of the closing period.

The Sky Blue were rarely tested, their opponents lone shot on goal of the first half came off a Park Cho-Young’s free-kick. It was inches wide and crashed off the outside of the post, five minutes into the game.

Suarez responded quickly with the opening goal three minutes later.

Diego Forlan swiftly cut the ball back creating space on the flank before sending a deceiving cross to Suarez who punished South Korean net minder Jung Sung-Ryon from a tight angle from the corner of the six-yard box.

South Korea appeared deflated as Uruguay controlled the balk of the possession for the first 45 minutes. The Sky Blue mastered the first half with short passes, while sprinkling in effective long balls that switched the point of attack.

Uruguay flustered South Korea with their ball movement but didn’t aggressively search for a second goal.

As listless and lost as the Koreans looked in the first half, they came out with energy and brilliance from the start of the closing half.

The Koreans found their equalizer in the 68th minute when Bolton midfielder Lee Chung-Yong capitalized on poor defending and goalkeeping. A miss clearance led to Yong out jumping the keeper Fernando Muslera for a header into an empty net.

South Korean supporters erupted as the venue came alive. The Koreans had all the momentum and the Uruguay fans were quieted and now sitting down.

As the rain started to pick up in the final 20 minutes of the match, South Korea poured on the pressure.

This set the stage for effective counters attack by the Sky Blue, which had made them look dangerous throughout the day.

With 10 minutes remaining, Forlan’s corner kick was cleared to Suarez on the left side of the box. He took a look at the far post before bending it against the inside of the upright, in another difficult but skillful finish.

South Korea had time for another answer but came up just short as substitute Lee Dong-Gook’s fresh legs almost found the back of the net on a breakaway. Muslera got a hand on the shot as it teasingly rolled toward the goal line before a Uruguay defender cleared it.

The Korean’s dream ends in the Round of 16, but can hold their heads high having advanced past the group stages outside of their country for the first time.

Uruguay is the first side to book their place in the final eight and will match-up with Ghana. The Sky Blue lives to see another day in hopes of lifting their first World Cup Trophy since 1950.

The game kicks off Friday, July 2 in Johannesburg at Soccer City Stadium 8 p.m. local time.