South Korea failed to advance to the quarterfinals of the World Cup in South Africa Saturday after a 2-1 loss to Uruguay at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
In its first round-of-16 match in away tournaments, South Korea put up a strong offense against Uruguay after conceding its first goal just eight minutes after the kickoff. The South Korean squad, Group B's runner-up, tied the game early in the second half but lost its second point with just 10 minutes left.
"It was a good game," Huh Jung-moo, the South Korean coach, said at a post-match press conference. "We had lots of opportunities ... I think Uruguay was lucky enough to put in the goals. I really want to congratulate our team for doing their best."
Huh observed that his players "led the game in the second half," but expressed regret that they were not able to translate that effort into goals.
The Asians made it to the semifinals of the South Korea-Japan World Cup in 2002 but had never reached the knockout stage in away tournaments despite having played in six straight World Cup tournaments from 1986 to 2006.
"I stress this," said Oscar Tabarez, coach of the Uruguayan team, No. 1 in Group A. "I think Korea did very well. Perhaps we were lucky and they weren't lucky in some of the moves. But that's football."
Luis Suarez put Uruguay in the lead in the eighth minute as he netted a goal from Diego Forlan's cross that was poorly managed by South Korea's defense and goalie.
The South American squad's offense appeared to lose steam in the second half, while South Korea pushed harder, leading the pace.
The Korean offense bore fruit when Lee Chung-yong headed home in the 67th minute, leveling the match under drizzling rain and raising expectations of overtime.
Suarez, however, dashed South Korea's hopes again by scoring in the 80th minute, curling a right-footer to the right edge of the South Korean goal guarded by Jung Sung-ryong.
The South Koreans, along with some 500 supporters, fell to the ground as the whistle signaled the end of the match.
The Koreans had many missed opportunities. A free kick by AS Monaco Park Chu-young in the fifth minute rattled the upright area of the Uruguayan goal post. A decent header by captain Park Ji-sung was met by the hands of Uruguayan goalie Fernando Muslera.
Striker Lee Dong-gook, who was put into play for the second time in South Africa, also came close, but was intercepted by Muslera and the Uruguayan defense in the 86th minute.
Tabarez noted that the game was "very difficult" and that the Koreans surprised them in the latter part of the match.
"I think the team showcased their maturity and temperament," he said. "I think our team played a better game in the last minutes."
The South American team, champions of the first World Cup in 1930 and again in 1950, have not conceded a single goal against France, South Africa and Mexico in the group-stage matches.
Uruguay, 16th in world football rankings, has now recorded five consecutive wins against South Korea, including a victory from the group stage match in the 1990 Italy World Cup.
