Both fans of South Korea and Russia walked away from Arena Pantanal stadium in Cuiaba Tuesday (June 17) disappointed in the match ending in a 1-1 draw.
South Korean forward Lee Keun-ho entered as a substitute in the second half and unleashed a stinging shot from outside the box that the seasoned Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev appeared to have under control but he let it slip from his grasp and over his shoulder into the net.
Just minutes later, the Russians fought back with a goal of their own. Veteran Alexander Kerzhakov, the sole surviving member of Russia's last World Cup team in the 2002 finals in Asia, swiveled and struck from inside the six-yard box in the 74th minute.
Daniel Park, a Korean fan from Los Angeles, California, wished his team had won.
"We should win. Maybe one more goal. The Korean players tried to keep it to just one goal. But we have to play stronger, we have to push it. But this (referring to tie) is very sorry," he said.
Russian fans were equally as disappointed.
Valeriya Kadomskaya traveled from Moscow with her father, Vyacheslav, who was dressed in a crown with a giant white beard and draped in the Russian flag.
"Unfortunately, we didn't win, but it was an interesting game. I'm glad we got a goal. I don't know. Maybe we didn't have luck," Kadomskaya said.
Alex Mukhanov, a fan from Yaroslavl, also said the team needs luck.
"I think we need more aggressive play, more passes to the forwards and I think a little bit of luck and everything will be alright," Mukhanov said.
Both teams played a chess-like first half of ebb and flow but posed little danger to the goalkeepers.
In the 10th minute, Yun Suk-young hit a long high ball down the left wing and Koo Ja-cheol headed it into the middle where Son took off on a fast diagonal run into the right side of the box where he shot too high.
The 21-year-old striker had another chance in the 39th minute when he found space in the middle but his effort from the edge of the box sailed high over the bar.
Russia tried to stretch the Korean defence through Yuri Zhirkov on the left wing and Alexander Samedov on the right.
Samedov found the angle too tight in the 20th minute and shot wide but on the half hour when he was fouled 25 metres out by Ki Sung-yueng, who was booked, keeper Jung managed to beat away centre back Sergey Ignashevich's powerful free kick.
The two teams' play impressed Kenji Yonogu, who came from Lucas do Rio Verde north of Cuiaba.
"Well I think that it was a good game. Both teams are very good. Korea played very well, but Russia managed to get back and score," said Yonogu, who will return to Cuiaba to watch Nigeria face Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 21.
Russia will play Belgium on June 22 at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro while Korea Republic will play Algeria the same day at the Beira-Rio Stadium in Porto Alegre.
REUTERS