Nigeria Eliminated After 2-2 Draw With South Korea

Goals from Lee Jung-Soo and Park Chu-Young brought South Korea back from an early deficit, but the Super Eagles were almost able to capitalize on a late Yakubu Aiyegbeni equalizer and earn a victory. But close-calls by Obafemi Martins and Victor Obinna failed to come true, leaving Nigeria eliminated after a 2-2 draw with South Korea.

Nigeria made the final moments exciting, with barely missing wide right twice in the match’s final moments after Obafemi Martins missed with a chip over Jung Sung-Ryong.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni converted a 69th minute penalty kick to pull Nigeria even with South Korea, 2-2, moments after a horrible miss that would have done the same.

Two minutes after Yakubu missed an open net from four yards out, the striker was given the duty of finishing a penalty kick awarded with Kim Nam-Il took down Chinedu Obasi in the South Korea area.

Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama misread a direct kick from Park Chu-Young, allowing South Korea’s second goal 48 minutes into their match with the Super Eagles.

Park struck the dead ball from 20 yards out, with Enyeama jumping behind his wall moments before contact. Parks ball curled just inside the vacated, far post for a South Korean goal and a 2-1 lead.

An early defensive error from South Korea put the Nigerians on the board early, but South Korea has come back and, with great set piece execution and some help from the post, go into halftime tied 1-1 with Nigeria.

Kalu Uche got Nigeria on the board in the 12th minute when he beat right back Cha Du-Ri to a Chidi Odiah cross, right footing a ball past Jung Sung-Ryong for the opening goal.

A perfectly executed set piece from South Korea, with some help from poor Nigerian marking, has given Lee Jung-Soo his second goal of this World Cup and South Korea an equalizing goal against Nigeria.

Minutes after Kalu Uche hit the right post, South Korea earned a dead ball opportunity on their left flank, with Ki Sung-Yeung bending an inswinger onto the far post, with Lee’s header back across goal giving South Korea their first goal of the match.

Nigeria is ahead in the 12th minute against South Korea, with Kalu Uche taking advantage of poor defending to give the Super Eagles a 1-0 lead.

Off a throw in, right back Chidi Odiah was able to penetrate down the right flank and get a cross into the box. The service look innocuous enough until Uche was able to slip past right back Cha Du-Ri and redirect the shot home for the opening goal.

Those who have seen South Korea play might find it a long shot. The Koreans were one of the tournament’s most impressive teams after one round, putting up an easy 2-0 victory over a Greece side that would go on to beat Nigeria. In their second match South Korea lost 4-1, but for a twenty minute stretch in the second half, South Korea looked poised for an equalizer.

The gap between South Korea and Nigeria may be larger than three points if measured by quality of play, but wins and draws dictate Group B’s table. With only one result separating the sides, and teams of similar talent levels, how each coach manages their side could determine which team does through.