By Khairul B Anwar
Khairul Anwar of VJC. (Photo © Les Tan/Red Sports)
South Africa, Tuesday, June 23, 2010 — Argentina topped the Group B table with a 100% record after a 2-0 win over Greece.
Greece’s trademark anti-football stifled Argentina so much that it took 77 minutes for the favorites to break the deadlock through Martin Demichelis. This was despite Greece needing to take a point away from this game to have any hopes of qualifying for the Round of 16. Those hopes were dashed minutes from time as Martin Parlemo made it two for Argentina.
Lionel Messi only shone during the closing stages of the game as he was followed doggedly by man marker Socratis Papascrotathopoulos. Nevertheless, he became Argentina’s youngest World Cup captain as he led his country for the first time two days before his 23rd birthday.
Despite the seven changes made to the side that beat South Korea 4-1, it was enough to secure a Round of 16 date with Mexico.
South Africa, Tuesday, June 23, 2010 — The South Koreans fell behind to Kalu Uche’s 12th minute opener in Durban but recovered strongly courtesy of Lee Jung-Soo’s 38th minute effort and Park Chu-Young’s free kick on 49 minutes. Yakubu then equalised for the Nigerians with a 69th minute penalty.
Glaring misses from Yakubu and Martins cost the Nigerians the three points. Yakubu missed the open goal from two yards out while Martins lofted the ball wide of the post in a one-on-one opportunity when he could have simply passed the ball into the net.
The defeat makes Nigeria the latest African side to suffer an agonizingly early exit while South Korea knew all they need was a draw to progress after Argentina defeated Greece. However safe to say, they made it to the Round of 16 only courtesy of Nigeria’s shoddy defending and finishing.
More News and Reactions on Argentina vs Greece
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Martin Palermo ecstatic over “priceless” experience
More News and Reactions on Nigeria vs South Korea
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Nigeria’s Ayila Yussuf unhappy with referee
South Korea make deserved history
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ARGENTINA  | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 9 |
SOUTH KOREA  | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 4 |
GREECE  | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 3 |
NIGERIA  | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 1 |
For the World Cup fixtures list with Singapore broadcast timings as well as group tables and the list of CCs with free screenings, go to: http://redsports.sg/2010-world-cup-fixtures-groups/
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