Argentina vs. South Korea (17.06.2010)

In the electrifying atmosphere of the Soccer City Stadium on June 17, 2010, Argentina faced off against South Korea in a group stage match that would prove pivotal for both teams. The game was marked by a flurry of goals and strategic substitutions, with Argentina dominating much of the play.

The scoring opened in the 16th minute when South Korean defender Park Chu-Young unfortunately directed the ball into his own net, giving Argentina the lead. Fans barely had time to settle before Argentina made an early substitution, bringing W. Samuel off the pitch in the 23rd minute, indicating a tactical shift by the coach.

Gonzalo Higuaín then etched his name onto the scoresheet in the 33rd minute, capitalizing on the South Korean defense's disarray to extend Argentina's lead. Just before the halftime whistle, however, South Korea found a moment of hope. Lee Chung-Yong managed to break through the Argentine defense, scoring a goal and closing the gap to 2-1 at the end of the first half.

The second half saw South Korea make their first substitution as Ki Sung-Yeung entered the fray at the 46-minute mark. Argentina responded with a substitution of their own in the 75th minute, with C. Tevez coming off the bench. The fresh legs on the field proved effective for Argentina, as they ramped up the pressure.

Higuaín, clearly in fine form, showed no mercy, finding the net twice more in quick succession in the 76th and 80th minutes, completing a remarkable hat-trick and all but securing the victory for Argentina. South Korea attempted to respond by substituting Park Chu-Young in the 81st minute, but it was too little, too late.

Arguably the man of the match, Gonzalo Higuaín was substituted in the 82nd minute to a standing ovation, as Argentina celebrated a resounding 4-1 victory. This match solidified Argentina's position as one of the favorites in the tournament and left South Korea with a lot to contemplate ahead of their next fixtures.

Lineup Argentina

Lineup South Korea

Substitutes Argentina

Substitutes South Korea

Argentina

South American Argentina is one of those countries where football means everything. Also, occasional football watchers will probably be familiar with the name Diego Maradona, who is still a bit of a quirky figure in Argentine football today, if only from the stands. But Argentina has a whole host of other famous names. Argentina's national team play in a combination of light blue and white national colours, and the Antonio Vespucio Liberti stadium is used for their home matches. Argentina's men's A team falls under the Argentine Football Association.

South Korea

South Korean national football team is one of the most successful Asian national teams. The World Cup usually ends in the group stage for them, but in 2002, for example, they made it to the medal fight and eventually finished fourth after losing to Turkey.

Do you want information about more matches?