Woeful Nigeria sees Korea through
Source: Agencies |
June 24, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SOUTH Korea gave Guus Hiddink honorary citizenship after he led it to the 2002 World Cup semifinals and Nigeria's Yakubu Aiyegbeni will no doubt also have a special place in Korean hearts after his gaffes in front of goal allowed it to make the last 16 this time around.
Korea drew 2-2 with the Super Eagles to seal second spot in Group B and a last 16 encounter with Uruguay on June 26. It marks the first time South Korea has advanced to the second round of a World Cup finals on foreign soil.
It was helped in no small part by some woeful Nigerian finishing, including the miss of the tournament when an unmarked Yakubu somehow managed to sidefoot the ball wide from six meters out and an open goal at his mercy.
It was an astonishing miss, one of the worst of any World Cup, and will undoubtedly be replayed in Yakubu's mind and on "Football's Funniest Moments" for years to come.
"There are a lot of people crying in there," Nigerian midfielder Dickson Etuhu said after the game, pointing to the dressing room. "It's difficult when you have the chances and you don't take them. Everyone's down and they can't believe it's over.
"It wasn't our day, everything that could go wrong, went wrong ... This World Cup has been almost, almost, almost..."
South Korea coach Huh Jung-moo said his side put itself under unnecessary pressure but praised its reaction after going behind 0-1.
"Nigeria had quite a few opportunities, Yakubu missed a chance for example," said Huh. "We thought it would be difficult if we conceded the first goal so when it actually happened it was a difficult situation for us. But our players managed to keep their cool to get a draw."
Huh was immensely proud to become the first Korean coach to lead the team to the second round.
"I know my players will not be satisfied with just reaching the round of 16 and we will work harder to reach the semifinals. The first objective was to reach the last 16 but after that it's anybody's guess."
Korea drew 2-2 with the Super Eagles to seal second spot in Group B and a last 16 encounter with Uruguay on June 26. It marks the first time South Korea has advanced to the second round of a World Cup finals on foreign soil.
It was helped in no small part by some woeful Nigerian finishing, including the miss of the tournament when an unmarked Yakubu somehow managed to sidefoot the ball wide from six meters out and an open goal at his mercy.
It was an astonishing miss, one of the worst of any World Cup, and will undoubtedly be replayed in Yakubu's mind and on "Football's Funniest Moments" for years to come.
"There are a lot of people crying in there," Nigerian midfielder Dickson Etuhu said after the game, pointing to the dressing room. "It's difficult when you have the chances and you don't take them. Everyone's down and they can't believe it's over.
"It wasn't our day, everything that could go wrong, went wrong ... This World Cup has been almost, almost, almost..."
South Korea coach Huh Jung-moo said his side put itself under unnecessary pressure but praised its reaction after going behind 0-1.
"Nigeria had quite a few opportunities, Yakubu missed a chance for example," said Huh. "We thought it would be difficult if we conceded the first goal so when it actually happened it was a difficult situation for us. But our players managed to keep their cool to get a draw."
Huh was immensely proud to become the first Korean coach to lead the team to the second round.
"I know my players will not be satisfied with just reaching the round of 16 and we will work harder to reach the semifinals. The first objective was to reach the last 16 but after that it's anybody's guess."
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