By Dave Durbach
Korea Times Correspondent
JOHANNESBURG ― Soccer City was awash with a sea of pale blue, amidst red islands of Korean supporters as Argentina took on South Korea in front of over 80,000 soccer fans.
It was a game played at a furious pace, with both teams creating numerous opportunities, and countless shots on goal, particularly in the first half.
South Korea were put on the back foot early on, due to an unfortunate own goal from Park Chu-Young in the 17th minute. A free kick from Lionel Messi failed to find an Argentinean head in front of goal, instead deflecting cruelly off the shin of Park and into the back of the net.
The South Americans found a second thanks to Manchester City star Carlos Tevez. Moments after sending a free kick just over the bar, he was adjudged to have been fouled by two Korean defenders just outside the box. The free kick looped over the Korean defense to Gonzalo Higuain, who headed it firmly downwards toward the goal, the bounce of the much-maligned Jabulani ball beating keeper Jung Sung-ryong.
Angel Di Maria very nearly bagged a third soon after. Jung failed to hang onto a cross, parrying it instead to the Argentina midfielder, whose thunderbolt shot drew an acrobatic save from Jung.
Messi came into his own later in the first half and began to show exactly why he is rated the best player in the world. He outfoxed no fewer than six Korean defenders, somehow creating space to take a shot, which curled just wide of Jung.
The Red Devils ― Korea's supporters ― had to wait until extra time in the first half to have something to cheer about. Again on a quick counter attack, Jung sent the ball deep into the Argentinean half, finding the Argentinean defense napping.
Midfielder Lee Chung-yong showed masterful control to beat the lone defender and outfox Argentinean keeper Sergio Romero, who fell clumsily backwards, nowhere close to saving Lee's deft nudge into the back of the net.
The Argentineans grew in confidence later in the second half. On the stroke of 65 minutes, a curling Messi free kick into the box narrowly missed an outstretched Argentinean boot. It was still on target for the goal though. This time, Jung kept a cool head, making no mistake with the tricky bounce in the swirling wind.
Sergio Aguero replaced Tevez in the 74th minute, and the Atletico Madrid striker proved instrumental in sealing the Koreans' fate.
Higuain grabbed his second goal minutes later, again thanks to the mercurial Messi, who made a surging run down the left. Jung pulled off a fantastic reflex save, deflecting the ball back to Messi, who had another go at it, this time beating Jung but hitting the woodwork from a tight angle. The ball landed at the feet of a wide open Higuain who scored a simple goal from a meter out.
Higuain grabbed his hat-trick four minutes later thanks to another piece of Messi magic. He sent in a cunning chip over the Korean defense to Aguero, who calmly volleyed the ball in front of goal, where Higuain once again finished off the move.
Within minutes, South Korea had gone from being 2-1 down and holding their own, to being 4-1 _ not a fair reflection of their performance in the second half when they brought out the best in the Argentineans.