Uruguay 2 - 1 South Korea: Suarez seals it for Uruguay

Published on Saturday 26 June 2010 21:00

LUIS Suarez curled in a superb winner ten minutes from the time to give Uruguay a 2-1 win over South Korea and take them to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 40 years.

The late strike from Suarez, who also netted in the eighth minute of a tight match that had looked to be headed for extra time, dashed the Koreans' dreams of reaching the last eight for the first time on foreign soil.

"Being young, this is the moment I have always dreamed of," the 23-year-old Suarez said. "I can imagine what it will be like back in Uruguay. The truth is they deserve it, all the people who have always been behind us, not to mention our families."

Asked about his winner, he said: "The truth is I didn't even realise the ball was going to go in."

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez admitted it had been a tough game but they were delighted with the win.

"There are only three million people in Uruguay and we waited a long time for this. I think the team put on a display of discipline, maturity and class, and luckily Suarez scored that amazing goal," Tabarez said.

"I think Korea had a great match. Perhaps they weren't lucky and we were, but that's football. They (the Koreans] surprised us with their approach and a different style of game. They tired us out."

Park Chu-young almost drew first blood in a bright start for the Koreans when his 5th minute curling free-kick from 20 metres struck the upright with the keeper beaten. However minutes later, Uruguay took the lead when Suarez capitalised on some horrendous Korean defending.

Edinson Cavani neatly curled the ball out wide to Diego Forlan, whose low cross cut through the sleeping Korean defence, was missed by keeper Jung Sung-ryong and reached the unmarked Suarez, who side-footed into an empty net.

South Korea came out fighting and created most of the chances, particularly after the break. They went close through Kim Jae-sung, Park Chu-young and close to the hour mark Park Ji-sung's header forced a save from Fernando Muslera. The pressure finally paid off on 68 minutes when Lee Chung-yong headed a poorly-cleared free kick into the net from close range. Their celebrations were short-lived though. With just ten minutes of normal time remaining, Suarez picked up a loose ball and his wonderful, curling shot went in off the post.

Uruguay: Uruguay: Muslera, Maxi Pereira, Lugano, Godin (Victorino 46), Fucile, Arevalo Rios, Perez, Pereira (Lodeiro 74), Forlan, Cavani, Suarez (Alvaro Fernandez 84).

South Korea: Jung, Cha, Cho, Jung-Soo Lee, Young-Pyo Lee, Ki (Yeom 85), Jung-Woo Kim, Jae-Sung Kim (Dong-Gook Lee 60), Ji-Sung Park, Chung-Yong Lee, Chu-Young Park.

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)