Analysis:Uruguay leverage experience to stifle South Korean energy

24.11.2022 - 19:51 channelnewsasia.com

AL RAYYAN, Qatar : Uruguay weathered an energetic early storm from a lively South Korea side that pressed relentlessly in the opening 15 minutes, calling on all of their experience to secure a scoreless draw in an opening World Cup Group H game that they should have won.

Kicking off their campaign at the Education City Stadium, the two teams came into the tournament with solid defensive reputations, but the Uruguayans did a better job of solving the South Korean puzzle, hitting the woodwork twice.

The Korean press looked like paying off early on but an over-reliance on Heung-min Son had his team mates searching for their talismanic forward, rather than taking a more direct approach when they won the ball high up the field.

Once Uruguay got to grips with the aggressive style of their opponents, they created the first real clear-cut chance as Federico Valverde cushioned a long ball to control it before firing a looping shot high and wide of the goal.

Luis Suarez Federico Valverde Qatar Uruguay South Korea North Korea

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