A day for defenders ensued in the match between South Korea and Uruguay as they played out an entertaining 0-0 draw in Group H's opening match in the Qatar World Cup. Both teams failed to score, but Uruguay did hit the post twice, at the end of the first and second halves, respectively.
Diego Godin's header hit the post in the dying minutes of the first half from a corner, and Federico Valverde's rocket hit the post in the 89th minute.
South Korea had a few good chances as well, but none came close to Uruguay's brace of post-hits. Striker Ui-Jo had the best chance for the Tigers of Asia, but he missed his chance in the 34th minute to give his nation the lead.
Key Performances
Diego Godin: Our man of the match, the veteran turned back time with his excellent defensive performance through his game reading and awareness.
Federico Valverde: Uruguay's key midfielder didn't disappoint, as his energy, enthusiasm, grit, and determination were visible throughout the game.
Kim Min Jae: The Napoli defender played out of his skin along with his centerback partner in order to ensure a clean sheet for his nation.
Kim Young Gwon: Kim Min Jae's partner at the back, the experienced Ulsan Hyundai defender, was at the top of his game, building a rock-solid foundation for the Taegeuk Warriors.
Aftermath
As Uruguay vs Korea Republic was the opening match in Group H of the Qatar World Cup, both sides are in the top two positions with one point each after settling for a 0-0 draw.