South Korea eased to a 2-0 win over a lackluster Greece side in yesterday’s first Group B match of the World Cup.
Lee Jung-soo tapped in unmarked to open the scoring in the seventh minute at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and captain Park Ji-sung doubled the lead in the 52nd minute with a slick solo goal.
The Manchester United midfielder collected a misplaced pass from Vassilis Torosidis and skipped past two defenders, before slipping a shot across goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas and in at the far post.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Striker Park Chu-young had another three chances to score for South Korea and Fanis Gekas had a shot saved with 10 minutes left, Greece’s first clear effort.
Greece coach Otto Rehhagel stood on the touchline at the end of the match, his hands on his hips and a fierce scowl on his face.
South Korea spent much of the opening minutes giving the ball away to the former European champions and defending desperately, but they scored from their first real chance.
Ki Sung-yong curled in a free-kick with his right foot from near the left corner flag and the ball brushed the top of Konstantinos Katsouranis’ head before reaching Lee at the far post, where the central defender easily tapped into an unguarded net.
Rehhagel took off captain Giorgos Karagounis at the interval, but South Korea continued to dominate despite Greece’s adventurous three-man attack and Park made it 2-0.
Torosidis gave the ball away to Park midway inside his own half and the South Korean surged forward, beat two sliding tackles, before coolly scoring with a low shot.
Greece mustered only a couple of blocked shots and appealed desperately for a late penalty when Gekas’ shot hit a defender. The South Korean had his arms raised, but replays showed the ball hit his body. Gekas then unleashed a shot from about 12m, but goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong punched it over the bar.
The Euro 2004 winners dominated the opening exchanges and Torosidis shot over the bar from a third-minute corner by Karagounis, but South Korea rallied and won a free-kick near the corner.
Park Chu-young put a low shot wide and the lone striker then surged clear into the area after breaking free of Greece’s four-man defense, only for Tzorvas to block his firm shot and deflect it over the bar.
Rehhagel substituted Karagounis for Christos Patsatzoglou at halftime, but the Red Devils created the first chance of the second half through Cha Du-ri, whose shot was blocked by a defender.
Park scored and, after Gekas’ late efforts, Lee Chung-yong had a final chance pushed past the post by Tzorvas.
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