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FIFA World Cup 2010 match 3 - Group B Greece: Tzorvas, Seitaridis, Papadopoulos, Vyntra, Torosidis, Tziolis, Karagounis (Patsatzoglou 45), Katsouranis, Samaras (Salpigidis 59), Charisteas (Kapetanos 61), Gekas. South Korea: Jung, Cho, Y.P.Lee, J.S.Lee, Cha, J.S.Park, J.W.Kim, C.Y.Park (S.Y.Lee 87), Ki (N.I.Kim 74), C.Y.Lee (J.S.Kim 90), Yeom. Both these sides would have possibly viewed this as their most winnable game in this group and a tight contest might have been envisaged. As it was South Korea would outplay Greece with surprising comprehension. Greece started strongly and defender Torosidis was unlucky that his instant half volley from a right wing corner flashed over the bar from eight yards. Thereafter the European team would offer virtually no threat whatsoever as the swift passing movements of the Koreans took increasing control of proceedings. South Korea took the lead in the seventh minute from a set piece of their own. Ki's free kick from close to the left corner flag was flicked on inadvertantly by Katsouranis and J.S.Lee slotted home from close range with Tzorvas nowhere in the Greek goal. The goal did nothing to trigger a response from Greece who showed no invention or ambition in midfield and looked woeful up front. South Korea, in stark contrast, attacked quickly and in numbers and consistently threatened a second goal. The referee did not look up to scratch and denied Korea on two occasions. C.Y.Park had a strong penalty appeal turned down when Torosidis ran straight through the back of him deep inside the area and the official then penalised J.S.Park for a foul when Seitaridis simply fell over to leave him running through on goal. Korea had a greeat chance to extend their lead when a sweet through ball from J.S.Park left C.Y.Park racing clear but Tzorvas got a foot to his shot and the ball looped over the bar. Greece made some effort to force the pace leading up to half time but their play was mainly crude and comfortably dealt with by the Korean defence and they could be happy to trail by only one goal at the interval. They had no reason to be happy with anything else. Half Time: Greece 0 South Korea 1 Greece took the unusual step of replacing their captain, Karagounis, at half time but the change made no difference to their tepid performance and they again conceded seven minutes into the half. Vyntra's dreadful control gave J.S.Park the chance to claim possession and the Manchester United man punished the error to the full by racing forward, brushing off two challenges, and scoring with an assurance which he rarely shows in the Premier League. It was only C.Y.Park who was sparing Greece from a real hammering and the centre forward missed badly when a perfect centre from the impressively adventurous right back Cha picked him out in front of goal. Greece made a belated attempt to get back in the game but struggled to make anything more than half chances. When the substitute Kapetanos was given a clear sight of goal he lifted his shot horribly over from twelve yards. Gekas, who had been prolific in qualifying but was mainly anonymous here, finally showed a spark with a fierce shot on the turn but the effort was too close to Jung who pushed the ball safely over the top. Fittingly it was Korea who ended the game on the attack, however, with Tzorvas having to save smartly from C.Y.Lee and J.W.Kim driving wide from a corner. A fully deserved victory for the impressive Koreans but a dreadful display from Greece, one of the worst from a European nation at the World Cup for some time. Full Time: Greece 0 South Korea 2 Greece Ratings: Tzorvas 5, Seitaridis 6, Papadopoulos 5, Vyntra 3, Torosidis 4, Tziolis 4, Karagounis 4 (Patsatzoglou 5), Katsouranis 4, Samaras 3 (Salpigidis 5), Charisteas 4 (Kapetanos 5), Gekas 5. South Korea: Jung 6, Cho 7, Y.P.Lee 7, J.S.Lee 7, Cha 8, J.S.Park 8, J.W.Kim 7, C.Y.Park 6, Ki 6 (N.I.Kim 6), C.Y.Lee 7, Yeom 6. Referee: Michael Hester (New Zealand) 3 Good: South Korea's passing and movement. Far too quick and assured for ponderous opponents. Bad: Greece and the referee. Ugly: Georgios Samaras. Looks, and played, like a bad Freddie Mercury tribute act.
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