Nothing could separate Uruguay and South Korea in their World Cup opener in Group H despite plenty of attacking quality on show in Qatar.
In front of a vibrant crowd at the Education City Stadium, the South Koreans frustrated Uruguay but did not create many clear-cut opportunities.
Their best fell to Hwang Ui-jo, who fired over the bar in the first half, before Uruguay captain Diego Godin headed a corner against the post.
Hwang stood with his head in hands afterwards, while team-mates fell to their knees in disbelief, all in front of a group of South Korean fans behind the goal, who were in fine voice throughout.
South Korea had controlled most of the first half but Uruguay began to dominate as the game wore on and they almost won it in the final minute of normal time when Federico Valverde’s long-range effort crashed off the post.
There was one last chance for Tottenham striker Son Heung-min – South Korea’s star man – but he dragged his shot wide, much to the relief of the Uruguayan supporters.
The draw leaves Group H wide open, with many seeing it as a three-way battle for qualification to the knockout stages between Uruguay, South Korea and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
Son and Nunez miss chances in competitive draw
The atmosphere around the stadium beforehand was fairly subdued but after kick-off there was relentless noise from a few hundred South Korean fans in one corner.
It was their players who took control of the game in the first half, playing some good build-up football and testing the Uruguayan defence from wide areas.
Son was often isolated on the wing but when he did have an occasion to run into space, he beat two players and whipped in a dangerous cross.
He was found on the edge of the box shortly into the second half too but Uruguay’s Jose Gimenez made a crucial sliding challenge to deny him a shot.
Son was a threat only occasionally but the crowd often rose to their feet as their voices lifted in anticipation for what he could potentially produce – and he nearly came good in the final moments when he dragged an effort wide.
Uruguay’s game plan was clear. They looked to play over the top of South Korea’s defence at any opportunity, with Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez a threat on the counter-attack with his pace.
Real Madrid’s Valverde almost got on the end of a long ball from Gimenez, while Nunez should have connected with a cross that came in from the right.
As the game wore on, Uruguay became more dangerous – Nunez broke away down the left but couldn’t find a team-mate, moments before manager Diego Alonso used his wildcard with the introduction of former Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani.
Cavani looked lively, almost connecting with Nunez’s fizzing shot, which flew just wide of the post, but the South Korean defence held firm for a point which could prove vital in a competitive Group H.
Player of the match
Son Heung-MinSon Heung-Min
Uruguay
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Squad number11Player nameNúñezAverage rating
6.85
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Squad number6Player nameBentancurAverage rating
6.48
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Squad number15Player nameValverde
Average rating6.34
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Squad number21Player nameCavani
Average rating5.83
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Squad number8Player namePellistri
Average rating5.81
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Squad number9Player nameSuárez
Average rating5.75
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Squad number3Player nameGodín
Average rating5.74
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Squad number23Player nameRochet
Average rating5.49
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Squad number16Player nameOlivera
Average rating5.47
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Squad number2Player nameGiménez
Average rating5.38
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Squad number22Player nameCáceres
Average rating5.38
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Squad number7Player namede la Cruz
Average rating5.12
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Squad number13Player nameVarela
Average rating5.10
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Squad number5Player nameVecino
Average rating5.01
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Squad number17Player nameViña
Average rating4.90
South Korea
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Squad number7Player nameSon Heung-Min
Average rating7.88
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Squad number1Player nameKim Seung-gyu
Average rating7.46
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Squad number15Player nameKim Moon-Hwan
Average rating7.34
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Squad number3Player nameKim Jin-Su
Average rating7.29
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Squad number4Player nameKim Min-Jae
Average rating7.23
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Squad number19Player nameKim Young-Gwon
Average rating7.22
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Squad number6Player nameHwang In-Beom
Average rating7.04
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Squad number10Player nameLee Jae-Sung
Average rating6.93
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Squad number18Player nameLee Kang-In
Average rating6.93
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Squad number17Player nameNa Sang-Ho
Average rating6.82
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Squad number5Player nameJung Woo-Young
Average rating6.77
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Squad number13Player nameSon Jun-Ho
Average rating5.98
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Squad number16Player nameHwang Ui-Jo
Average rating5.86
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Squad number9Player nameCho Gue-Sung
Average rating5.81
Line-ups
Uruguay
Formation 4-3-3
- 23Rochet
- 22CáceresBooked at 57mins
- 3Godín
- 2Giménez
- 16OliveraSubstituted forViñaat 79′minutes
- 15Valverde
- 6Bentancur
- 5VecinoSubstituted forde la Cruzat 78′minutes
- 8PellistriSubstituted forVarelaat 88′minutes
- 9SuárezSubstituted forCavaniat 64′minutes
- 11Núñez
Substitutes
- 1Muslera
- 7de la Cruz
- 10de Arrascaeta
- 12Sosa
- 13Varela
- 14Torreira
- 17Viña
- 18Gómez
- 19Coates
- 20Torres
- 21Cavani
- 24Canobbio
- 25Ugarte
- 26Rodríguez
South Korea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Kim Seung-gyu
- 15Kim
- 4Kim
- 19Kim Young-Gwon
- 3Kim
- 6Hwang
- 5Jung Woo-Young
- 17NaSubstituted forLeeat 75′minutes
- 10Lee Jae-SungSubstituted forSonat 75′minutes
- 7Son Heung-Min
- 16HwangSubstituted forChoat 74′minutesBooked at 88mins
Substitutes
- 2Yoon
- 8Paik
- 9Cho
- 11Hwang Hee-Chan
- 12Song
- 13Son
- 14Hong Chul
- 18Lee
- 20Kwon
- 21Cho Hyun-Woo
- 22Kwon
- 23Kim
- 24Cho
- 25Jeong
- 26Song
- Referee:
- Clément Turpin
- Attendance:
- 41,663
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Uruguay 0, Korea Republic 0.
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Second Half ends, Uruguay 0, Korea Republic 0.
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Foul by Guillermo Varela (Uruguay).
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Kim Jin-Su (Korea Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Uruguay. Conceded by Kim Moon-Hwan.
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Foul by Matías Viña (Uruguay).
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Lee Kang-In (Korea Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Hwang In-Beom (Korea Republic) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Lee Kang-In.
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Attempt missed. Son Heung-Min (Korea Republic) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Hwang In-Beom.
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Federico Valverde (Uruguay) hits the left post with a right footed shot from outside the box.
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Cho Gue-Sung (Korea Republic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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José Giménez (Uruguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Cho Gue-Sung (Korea Republic).
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Substitution, Uruguay. Guillermo Varela replaces Facundo Pellistri.
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Attempt missed. Edinson Cavani (Uruguay) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Rodrigo Bentancur with a cross.
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Edinson Cavani (Uruguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Hwang In-Beom (Korea Republic).
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Attempt missed. Darwin Núñez (Uruguay) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Edinson Cavani.
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Diego Godín (Uruguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Cho Gue-Sung (Korea Republic).
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