Draw enough for South Korea

SOUTH KOREA clinched a place in the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time on foreign soil despite being held to a draw by Nigeria in their final Group B match in Durban.

Kalu Uche opened the scoring for the African team in the 12th minute and almost doubled his side’s lead shortly after the half-hour mark but his powerful strike smashed off the near post.

Lee Jung-soo equalised in the 38th minute and then Park Chu-young’s free-kick early in the second half turned the match on its head.

Korea shot themselves in the foot when substitute Kim Nam-Il brought down Chinedu Obasi inside the area midway through the second half. Ayegbeni Yakubu, having missed the easiest of tap-ins seconds earlier, made amends by restoring parity from the penalty spot.

The outcome sealed second spot in the group for Korea and a second-round match against Uruguay on Saturday in Port Elizabeth.

South Korea enjoyed a strong start and almost took the lead after two minutes, but Bolton’s Lee Chung-yong directed his close-range effort just wide of the far post.

It was Nigeria who took a surprise lead soon after. In their first purposeful attack, Chidi Odiah went on a superb run and crossed towards the heart of the area, where Uche beat Cha Du-ri to the ball and fired past Jung Sung-ryong.

Korea equalised before the break when Ki Sung-yueng’s free-kick towards the far post was met by Lee Jung-soo, whose first-time finish beat Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

Korea picked up where they left off after the interval and went ahead in the 48th minute.

Park Chu-young’s free-kick swerved towards the post and Enyeama failed to get a touch.

Lagerback introduced Obafemi Martins to replace Kanu in the 56th minute in the hope he could spark his team to life. On the hour mark, Uche set up an unmarked Yakubu, but he inexplicably tapped wide of an open goal from two yards.

Yakubu made amends soon after by firing a spot-kick past Jung Sung-ryong.

NIGERIA: Enyeama, Odiah, Yobo (Echiejile 46), Shittu, Afolabi, Yussuf, Etuhu, Obasi Ogbuke, Kanu (Martins 57), Uche, Yakubu (Obinna 70).

SOUTH KOREA: Jung, Cha, Cho, Jung-Soo Lee, Young-Pyo Lee, Chung-Yong Lee, Ki (Jae-Sung Kim 86), Jung-Woo Kim, Ji-Sung Park, Yeom (Nam-Il Kim 63), Chu-Young Park (Dong-Jin Kim 90).

Referee: Olegario Benquerenca (Portugal).