PORT ELIZABETH, June 12 (PTI): A nippy South Korea produced the first upset of the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a stunning 2-0 victory over Greece in their Group-B league opener here today.
Lee Jung-soo and Ji-Sung Park struck the goals as the South Koreans played an inspired game to leave the fancied Euro 2004 champions in a daze and earn two full points in a thrilling contest at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium.
The South Koreans, ranked 47th in the current FIFA rankings, completely outplayed Greece, ranked 13th, with a combination of speed and flair to launch their campaign on a perfect note. They also become the first team to resister a win in this edition of the World Cup after both the matches ended in a draw on the opening day.
The South Koreans fired the first salvo as early as in the seventh minute of the contest with the hard-working Lee Jung-soo finding the target, much to the delight of his teammates.
The first goal was the result of a defensive lapse by the Greek defenders as Jung-soo was left unmarked inside the box following a free kick from the flank. The diminutive defender volleyed the ball in from barely three yards.
The goal virtually served as a tonic for the South Koreans as they threatened to tear apart the Greek defence with a series of raids from both the flanks.
Striker Yeom Ki-hun masterminded most of the moves upfront as the Koreans came dangerously close to scoring a number of time in the fast-paced opening session but lacked the finishing to increase their lead.
The Asian team saw an easy chance go abegging in the 15th minute when medio Lee Chungyong managed to break through the fragile Greek defence but failed to control the ball inside the box.
On another occasion, he was dispossessed close to the goalmouth before he could make an attempt. The South Koreans dominated most part of the opening half as Greece appeared tentative in the defence while their forwards also did not show much cohesion or flair to pose serious problems for the rival custodian Jung Sung-ryong.
The Greek defence had another anxious moment in the 23rd minute as Kim Jung-woo broke through the cordon with deft footwork and passed the ball to Lee Chung-yong, who was unable to make a clean connection.
The South Koreans were distinctly unlucky not to pump in their second goal five minutes later when Perk Chu-young, after receiving a superb through pass from Ji-Sung Park, raced towards the goal but his close range poke was saved by the outstretched leg of Greece custodian Alexandros Tzorvas.
The South Koreans consolidated their position seven minutes into the second session through a brilliant solo effort by captain Park Ji Sung. In a lightning counter-attack, the Manchester United got possession of the ball about 30 yards from the goal, dribbled past a defender with deft footwork and then shot the ball over an advancing Tzorvas.
The goal prompted Greece coach Otto Rehhagel to make a couple of substitutions with captain Giorgos Karagounis, Samaras and Angelos Charoesteas being replaced but the move did not make much of a difference as the South Koreans continued to exert pressure.
