Draw Without Scoring... Securing 1 Point
The South Korean national football team earned 1 point in their first match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. On the 24th, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, they played to a goalless draw against Uruguay in the Group H match. Although they did not secure a victory, sharing the points laid the foundation for their challenge to advance to the Round of 16.
The team’s Son Heung-min (Tottenham), who underwent surgery for an orbital fracture, played the full match wearing a facial protective mask. The players responded to their captain’s fighting spirit with concentration. They did not lose the midfield battle and created several chances. However, due to a lack of finishing, their shots repeatedly missed the goal.
The defense did their part. They consistently applied strong pressure on the opponent, causing mistakes, and blocked passing lanes with quick movements. Luck was also on their side. Near the end of the first half, Diego God?n’s (V?lez Sarsfield) header from a corner kick hit the goalpost and bounced out, and late in the second half, Darwin N??ez’s (Liverpool) long-range shot struck the top of the goal. Having overcome these crises, the team recorded consecutive clean sheets in two World Cup finals matches for the first time in South Korean football history, following their 2-0 victory over Germany in the third group match of the 2018 Russia tournament.
The team will regroup and play their second match against Ghana at 10 PM on the 28th. They are determined to secure 3 points and advance to the Round of 16 for the first time in 12 years since the 2010 South Africa tournament.
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