Uruguay v South Korea LIVE World Cup 2022: Result, final score and reaction as teams play out dreary stalemate
Uruguay 0-0 South Korea: Uruguay hit the woodwork twice through Diego Godin and Federico Valverde but couldn’t find a breakthrough
Uruguay defender Diego Godin and midfielder Federico Valverde both hit the woodwork as the South Americans were held to a 0-0 draw by South Korea in their opening World Cup Group H game.
Wearing a black mask to protect a facial fracture, Son Heung-min started for the South Koreans, yet it was team mate Hwang Ui-jo who came closest to breaking the deadlock, but he scooped his shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
The best chance of a pulsating first half fell to Uruguay captain Godin, whose glancing header from a corner hit the foot of the left-hand post just before the break.
Valverde fired a stinging shot in the final minute of regulation time that hit the top of the post as the two sides battled to a stalemate in front of a crowd of 41,663, with group rivals Portugal set to meet Ghana later in the evening.
Relive all the action with our live blog below:
HALF TIME: Uruguay 0-0 South Korea
World Cup federations have been told by Fifa that the rainbow flag is to be “welcomed” at stadiums for the next round of games, after a series of incidents that culminated in the team captains of seven Uefa federations not wearing the OneLove armband.
The colours have become one of the tension points of the tournament, as so many players, officials and fans want to make a gesture of solidarity towards the LGBTQ+ community over Qatar’s laws and culture around homosexuality.
Some supporters and media have had items of clothing with rainbow flags confiscated, most notably with security even instructing that bucket hats should be removed. The Independent has been told of cases where Welsh fans were simply wearing the colours of the country – red, yellow, white and green – only to be told to take them off.
A number of federations have raised this with Fifa, given they were told beforehand that it would be an open World Cup, and the global governing body has told federations it has been given assurances by the tournament’s Safety and Security Operations Committee that rainbow items will no longer be confiscated. It has gone so far that missives have been passed to security at stadiums, to prevent what were described as “localised incidents”.
Exclusive by Miguel Delaney
Fifa says rainbow colours allowed at Qatar World Cup despite ‘localised incidents’
Some Wales fans were forced to remove bucket hats displaying the rainbow colours associated with support for the LGBTQ+ community by security staff at a World Cup venue
HALF TIME: Uruguay 0-0 South Korea
Danny Murphy, meanwhile, is causing a scene with some out-of-the-box but ultimately incorrect thinking.
“I’ve always found it strange how they don’t count hitting the post or the bar as on target,” he said after Godin’s header.
Wrong.
HALF TIME: Uruguay 0-0 South Korea
We’re goalless - not sure how - but that was an interesting opening half between Uruguay and South Korea. Both teams have had their moments and spells of good play. Godin came closest for Uruguay with a header that struck the post, while Hwang Ui-jo wasted a glorious chance at the other end of the pitch.
Uruguay 0-0 South Korea
45 mins: We’re into one minute of added time. I’m in shock.
Olivera meanwhile can’t keep a cross in play as another Uruguay attack fizzles out.
Uruguay 0-0 South Korea
44 mins: OFF THE POST! Almost a towering header from the veteran Diego Godin! From the corner, he rises before crashing a header against the post! It comes back into play but South Korea scramble clear! Closest we’ve come.
Uruguay 0-0 South Korea
42 mins: After absorbing a South Korea attack, Uruguay spring forward through Pellistri. He looks for Suarez in the middle and almost finds him, but Jung Woo-young cuts it out for a corner.
Uruguay 0-0 South Korea
39 mins: Luis Suarez has barely had a touch for Uruguay - and South Korea are finding some joy when they get runners around Godin. Despite the energy of Nunez and Valverde, Uruguay are looking quite vulnerable in places.
Uruguay 0-0 South Korea
37 mins: That sums up Uruguay at the moment. Gimenez rolls the ball straight out of play and Uruguay are losing patience as they try to break South Korea down.
Uruguay 0-0 South Korea
33 mins: HUGE CHANCE! South Korea should be ahead. It’s a lovely move and they cut Uruguay open - but when the ball was squared to Hwang Ui-jo he can’t keep his shot down! It’s lifted over the bar from in front of the goal and that’s the best chance of the game so far.
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