Uruguay's Alonso expecting nail-biting finale in World Cup group

24.11.2022 - 22:29 channelnewsasia.com

AL RAYYAN, Qatar : Uruguay coach Diego Alonso believes his team's World Cup group will go down to the wire in next week's final matches, emerging positive from a goalless but entertaining opening draw with South Korea that featured flashes of flair.

Alonso was happy with the point against a spirited South Korean side who took the game to Uruguay before the South Americans found their rhythm and threatened with creative moves and precision passing in an end-to-end Group H match.

Veteran captain Diego Godin, playing in his fourth World Cup at 36, produced a strong performance at the back and came close to scoring when his first-half header hit the woodwork and Federico Valverde struck the post in final minutes."It as a tight game between two competitive nations.

First 20 minutes was South Korea, we struggled, we couldn't take the ball from them but we could adjust," Alonso told reporters. "Second half we were better, we attacked a bit more, tried to be more competitive.

cup Diego Alonso Darwin Núñez Federico Valverde Qatar Portugal Usa Ghana Uruguay South Korea

AL WAKRAH, Qatar : With a history of deep World Cup runs and a squad oozing talent and experience, Uruguay's failure to reach the tournament's knockout stages for the first time in two decades was a footballing disaster entirely of their own making.

Stunned Uruguay win but dumped out of World Cup on goals scored

AL WAKRAH, Qatar: Giorgian de Arrascaeta netted twice in six minutes as a resurgent Uruguay beat Ghana 2-0 on Friday (Dec 2) in a battle for their World Cup survival, only to crash out agonisingly on goals scored after South Korea's shock win over Portugal. In Group H deciders that went right down to the wire, Uruguay had one foot in the last 16 before South Korea scored in stoppage time to go through by virtue of notching one goal more than the South Americans over their three matches. Uruguay had left themselves with a mountain to climb, with their cast of big-name strikers unable to find the net in their opening games, leading to their first group-stage exit in two decades. "Without doubt, we did everything we could. We paid dear," said De Arrascaeta. "We are sad because we left our all in this game, we scored goals and the outcome didn't depend on us, it left us out." Veteran striker Luis Suarez, playing in his fourth World Cup, was recalled to the team as captain and was instrumental in both of the goals. At the final whistle, he was inconsolable and in tears after Uruguay's fate was sealed. With South Korea tied with Portugal late in their match and Uruguay two goals up, La Celeste looked almost certain to go through before the pendulum swung agonisingly in the direction of South Korea.

Uruguay exit World Cup with 'bad taste in our mouth' - coach

AL WAKRAH, Qatar : Uruguay's bitterly disappointed manager and players blamed penalty decisions against them for their exit from the World Cup on Friday after they beat Ghana 2-0 but were pipped to a last 16 spot by South Korea due to an inferior number of goals scored.