South Korea dominated their first match with Greece 2-0, but were outpaced by the Argentinians, who were coming off a less-than-impressive 1-0 over Nigeria.
Argentinian "manager" Diego Maradona has been the news for his side since taking over last year. His dubious history, antics, and lack of organization caused most in the footy world (and his own country) to question his viability as a manager. With many of the top players in the world competing for Argentina, they couldn't muster an impressive qualifying campaign and barely made it to South Africa. The blame was placed firmly upon "Maradroga's" ("bad drugs" in reference to his drug ban from footy) diminuitive stature. Brazilian legend Pele and UEFA president/former French star Michel Platini have been two of his many outspoken critics.
Maradona said he was not surprised by their comments and that "Pele has to go back to the museum."
As for Platini, "I always had a very distant relationship with him -- hello and goodbye. We know how the French are and Platini is French and he thinks of himself as being more than the rest of the world. I've never paid him any attention and I won't do it now."
The question on many a mind was "could his players win despite him?" With no discernible plan or reasoning behind his decisions (he's called up over 100 players in his year-long tenure), he deflected the criticism with ridiculous rants (crude comments to a female reporter in a news conference), running over journalists (then berating them with profane language for not getting out of the way), insisting upon traveling with his own expensive toilet seat, and in general just being a disgusting representative of a proud footy country.
After his side's struggle with bottom-dweller Nigeria, the South American equivalent of Napoleon would have questions to answer if his team could not impress against South Korea.
Well...they did.
The Koreans couldn't find the same form they had enjoyed against Greece, and the Albicelestes started off with a gift from the Treguk Warriors. In the 16' Park Chu-Young tried to head a cross clear and put it into his own goal.
Argentina kept pushing and it paid off when RM striker Gonzalo Higuain (and leading scorer for los Blancos) headed home a winner in the 33'. The Albicelestes now looked to be cruising but South Korea pulled one goal back just at the halftime whistle when Park Ji-Sung headed a high ball into the center of the last third. Argentinian defender Demichelis took the ball but didn't see Lee Chung-Young behind him. Lee took the ball and knocked home their first goal of the match. At the half it was Argentina 2-1.
The Korean's continued to pressure in the second half and Napoleon was pacing the touchline. Argentina had suffered in their qualifying matches with second-half blunders, failing to put the games away. But Lionel Messi alleviated that fear when he took a ferocious strike at the Korean goal. The keeper parried back to Messi, who fed the ball through the open goal mouth to a waiting Higuain, who tapped it home. 3-1 Argentina.
Napoleon replaced Tevez with his son-in-law and transfer icon (if you believe the Spanish press, everyone wants to sign him) Sergio Aguero in the 69' . He showed his worth in the 79' by heading a lobber across the box, which Higuain headed into the goal. 4-1 Argentina (3-1 Higuain). A hat-trick for Gonzalo (aided by his countrymen of course).
That was the final score and it gave the Argentinians a wonderful chance to advance.
Overall thoughts:
Higuain was a star today and played very well in the first match. He has shown smart play that he hasn't shown consistently for his club side. Maybe he is trying to get out from under the Cristiano Ronaldo shadow imposed upon him by RM. His performance thus far has certainly upped his value in the Player of the Year stakes.
As the Argentinians advance they will have to address their second-half laziness. The final score was not indicative of their overall second-half play. When they meet better opposition, that could be a factor.
Higuain's hat-trick was the first three-goal effort since Portugal's Pauleta scored one against Poland in WC 2002.
A South Korean fans puts on his game face
Man of the Match Gonzalo Higuain scores one of his three goals
South Korea celebrates pulling one back (haha...look at the keeper!)
Aguero (16) watches Higuain score a "gimme goal"
"Hold on there, little guy"...the only way to stop number 10
GREECE vs NIGERIA
On a day when one player scored a hat-trick, another player was instrumental in his side's first World Cup win ever. Greece has been struggling as a country; in financial ruins. Vasilis Torosidis has given his country something to cheer about. After Nigeria took the lead on a fantastic freekick by Kalu Uche in the 16', the Nigerians were cruising. Greece had nothing to show, as they did in their first match against South Korea. But in the 33', Torosidis was taking a ball out of bounds when Sani Kaita came up behind him and slightly pushed him. Torosidis whipped around to push him off and Kaita kicked out at the Greek. RED CARD. Off Kaita went, with his shirt pulled over his head, and now Greece only had to play ten men.
African teams have struggled in this WC and certainly the Super Eagles were looking to get three points from a Greek side that had never scored a goal in WC play (their only other appearance being in 1994). But Kaita's sending off put the Nigerians on their heels.
Greek manager Otto Rehhagel pulled one of his defenders and replaced him with a striker, a move that would bring his side equal with Nigeria. Just before the half Dimitrios Salpingidis took a strong shot on goal that ricocheted off a Super Eagle (Haruna), sending their keeper the wrong way. 1-1 at halftime.
In the second half the African side held their own. Both sides had chances to score but in the 71' a Greek player took a strong shot which Nigerian keeper Vincent Enyeama stopped...but it rolled away from him and into the path of, you guessed it...Vasilis Torosidis. He tapped it home and the score was now Greece 2-1. Enyeama's fantastic keeping skills kept his side in the match. It's a shame that Kaita's temper killed his team's chances of winning.
All of the teams in this group can still go through at this point. Argentina, with six points, look secure. But there is still one game to play. South Korea and Greece are equal with three points and -1 goal differential. If Greece could beat Argentina they could go through, providing Nigeria beats South Korea. But if Greece lose to Argentina and Nigeria beats South Korea, the Nigerians could go through if they scored enough goals (erasing their -2 goal differential).
Uche scores for Nigeria
Kaita leaves the pitch in shame and kills his side's chances
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