Nigeria vs Korea Republic, First Half: Neck To Neck
An early opportunity for South Korea put the Nigerians on their guard. The Super Eagles woke up from their passivity with more dynamism and aggression on the ball. The player that had to deal with his temper was Ayila, who was lucky to escape without a booking after making two illegal fouls on the Koreans.
But the moment for Nigeria to put to bed their anxiety wasn’t far away. Odiah kept his composure to effect an excellent cross and Uche didn’t fail to make something out of it. The striker stretched his foot to tap the ball into the net and therefore lift the spirit of Nigerian fans in the stadium as the Super Eagles were then ahead by a goal to nil.
Ji-Sung Park and Park Chu-Young worked to respond to the Nigerians but they couldn’t equal the experience of Kanu who dropped from his striking position to help create chances from the midfield area. Uche almost punished the South Koreans again with a strike from long distance but his ball hit the foot of the post.
It wasn’t long then before the Super Eagles brought frustration on themselves as Obasi concede a free-kick which the Asians deservingly converted. Sung-Yong Ki provided a good shot and Jung-Soo Lee drove the ball past the helpless Vincent Enyeama to level the score line at 1-1.
The game became much more balanced with neither sides getting the better of the other. The Super Eagles of Nigeria left the pitch at half time with some disappointment knowing that they had surrendered an important lead to the Tigers of Asia who were equally desirous to win the encounter.
Nigeria vs Korea Republic, Second Half: The Super Eagles Don't Have The Wings
To Fly
Real shock! Korea Republic took the lead after only four minutes gone into the second period of the game through Park Chu Yong’s swinging free-kick from the right hand side of the pitch. Once again, Nigeria’s wrath was punished through a set-piece.
On the hour mark, Yakubu Aiyegbeni had the most open of chances to put Nigeria back into the game as he was left one on one with just the keeper to beat. Outrageously, the striker let the ball roll away for a corner. Quickly after, Yakubu again missed an even more open chance to score as the Korean keeper, this time, was nowhere to be found from 2 yards out. Definitely, this will have to go down as the greatest miss in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Camera replays revealed that Yakubu was offside anyways.
But the player redeemed himself through the spot kick to give his side a vital equalizer in the 69th minute. A minute later substitute Obafemi Martins repeated Yakubu’s horrible form in front of goal when his chip over South Korea’s goalkeeper distressingly couldn’t find the net. Nigeria were imprisoned by their own failures to convert a host of easy chances to score. The clock marked the end of the game; joy for South Korea, obvious grief for Nigeria.
