Off the post for the Korean Republic — so close! Heartbeats later, a way too deep ball had Forlán backtracking like crazy to collect it, then returning it with a perfectly placed cross, dead between the Korean back line and keeper. The keeper came out for it, but succeeded only in leaving the goal untended as master-striker Luis Suárez connected with Forlán’s low-and-center ball and sent it sweetly into the far corner of the net. Korea threatening, Uruguay ahead, and the match only 10 minutes old.
There was controversy here and there (like that missed handball in front of the Korean goal near the end of the 1st half), but mostly it was the predominant WC-style football we’ve been seeing – shots screaming over the top of the net, wayward passes, over-hit crosses, and a scoreline that didn’t seem to equate with the energy the players were expending on the pitch.
Korea came out stronger in the 2nd half, though they didn’t show real belief in themselves until a momentary lapse in Uruguay’s concentration resulted in Lee Chung Yong heading the ball into the net to equalize. Game on, with 20 minutes of regulation time still to go and both teams in attack mode.
They carried the fight end-to-end with wonderful pace. Silver-platter chances were snubbed, mostly due to uncompromising midfield tackles, until late in the game. A curling ball from a Uruguay corner fell to Suárez. Miraculously finding space for his shot in the crowded box, the star-striker powered the ball into the net and racked up 2 for the game. The keeper had no chance.
The Taeguk Warriors did have a chance to even the score, though. Astonishingly, they flubbed it. In a rare moment of back-line disorganization, Diego Lugano played Korea on-side. The attempt on goal squirreled through the keeper’s arms and rolled toward the corner of Uruguay’s net — but so slowly, the defenders had time to recover, overtake it, and get it away.
In 1930, Uruguay had the double-honor of hosting the first-ever World Cup and hoisting the first-ever World Cup trophy. After excluding themselves for the next two cups, Uruguay returned to the WC fold in 1950 and again lifted the cup, this time by beating Brazil 2 – 1.
Since then, Uruguayan players have carried the weight of their history with them every time they’ve stepped out on a WC pitch. It’s been a lot to bear, but this time out they’ve cast their burden aside. In their first single-elimination round, they were strong, determined and quick to exploit South Korea’s weakness at the back. Korea may have been the better team on the day. Certainly they played the prettier football, but it’s not always about the “beautiful” game. Sometimes it’s about digging in and grinding out a result despite wind, weather and an appallingly lousy pitch. Well done, Uruguay, and well won.