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Group B Summary – Argentina/Nigeria/South Korea/Greece

June 24, 2010 — by Suman

Argentina dominates the group, winning all 3 of its matches.  South Korea finishes in 2nd place with 1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss.

Group B Fixtures & Results:

  • Day 2, Sat June 12: South Korea 2, Greece 0
  • Day 2, Sat June 12: Argentina 1, Nigeria 0
  • Day 7, Thurs June 18: Argentina 4, South Korea 1
  • Day 7, Thurs June 18: Greece 2, Nigeria 1
  • Day 12, Tues June 22: Argentina 1, Greece 0
  • Day 12, Tues June 22: South Korea 2, Nigeria 2

Standings:

Team MP W D L GF GA Pts
ArgentinaArgentina 3 3 0 0 7 1 9
Korea RepublicKorea Republic 3 1 1 1 5 6 4
GreeceGreece 3 1 0 2 2 5 3
NigeriaNigeria 3 0 1 2 3 5 1

Video highlights below.

Day 2, Sat June 12: South Korea 2, Greece 0

Although Greece had an early chance off a corner kick that could/should have very well been a goal, South Korea struck first in the 7th minute, off a free kick that was essentially a corner kick: Korean defender Jung-Soo Lee slipped in between the Greek defenders and easily volleyed the ball home–some poor defending by Greece.

South Korea had a multiple chances to double their lead later in the first half. More poor defending by Greece nearly led to a 2nd South Korean goal when Chung Yong Lee (who plays for Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League) got behind the defense and ran onto a ball in the penalty box off a throw in, flicked it nicely over one Greek defender and was in on goal, but stumbled (or was nudged by the Greek defender behind him) and was unable to get a shot off.

The Koreans had another great chance off a counterattack that started near their own penalty area. They settled the ball in their own half after blocking an attempted Greek cross, and #7 Park Ji-Sung (South Korea’s most prominent player, who plays for Man U) played through a beautiful long ball to #10 Park Chu-Young (club: Monaco, France), catching the Greek defender Vyntra (#11) off guard. Chu-Young ran in on goal and got a good shot off, but was denied by a sliding kick-save by the Greek goalkeeper.

The theme of poor Greek defending finally yielded a 2nd Korean goal early in the 2nd half. A poor touch by that same Greek central defender Vyntra led to a breakaway by Park Ji-Sung who finished nicely, shooting the ball just over the sliding Greek goalkeeper.

The remainder of the game saw each team generate some chances, but the score ended 2-0 for South Korea.

Day 2, Sat June 12: Argentina 1, Nigeria 0


Argentina scored early off a corner kick which defender Gabriel Heinze spectacularly and forcefully headed into the upper corner of the Nigerian goal (though it helped that Heinze was left alone by the Nigerian defense).

What followed was a number of excellent scoring chances for Argentina–and in particular for their maestro Lionel Messi, who as he did this past year at Barcelona seemed to dance effortlessly past defenders and quickly get off curling shots headed towards the corners of the goal. On this day, however, the Nigerian goalkeeper seemed to have Messi’s number, and Messi was denied.

Day 7 (June 17): Argentina 4, South Korea 1:

Although their first goal came on an own goal by the South Koreans, Argentina finally showed the artistic attack everyone was waiting for, ultimately overpowering the resilient South Korean side in the 2nd half. Argentina did give up a goal on a very bad defensive mistake just before the half.

Day 7 (June 17): Greece 2, Nigeria 1:

Greece achieved its first ever victory in the World Cup, although Nigeria stayed in the game despite playing the most of the game with 10 men.

Tues June 22 (Day 12): South Korea 2, Nigeria 2

Tues June 22 (Day 12): Argentina 1, Greece 0