South Korea get first win of World Cup finals

South Korea beat Greece 2-0 in their Group B World Cup match on Saturday to record only their second ever win outside Korea in a World Cup finals.

The 2002 co-hosts grabbed a seventh minute lead against the run of play, when Celtic’s Ki Sung Yueng’s freekick from beside the left corner flag skimmed over the heads of the Greek defence for Lee Jung Soo to volley in at the far post.

The Koreans proceeded to run rings round the Greeks and were close to a second goal in the 27th minute after skipper Park Ji Sung’s superb through ball found Park Chu Young only for the Monaco striker’s shot to be deflected over the crossbar by keeper Alexandros Tzorvas.

And the Koreans justifiably got a second seven minutes into the second-half as Park did find the net as the Manchester United star eased through the Greek defender and shot past Tzorvas from about 10 yards out.

Greece woke up after that and forced a series of corners and looked sharper after captain Angelos Charisteas was taken off by Otto Rehhagel, but failed to really threaten to overhaul the Koreans.

Group B favourites Argentina take on Nigeria later on Saturday at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.