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Player Ratings: South Korea 2-0 Greece
The Taegeuk Warriors sauntered to victory against Greece on Saturday afternoon. Here’s how each of the individual players fared.
Jun 12, 2010 9:50:00 AM
By Robin Bairner
SOUTH KOREA
Jung Sung-Ryong – 6.5 - Looked uncertain under a couple of Greek crosses and also seemed to lack communication with his defense at times but on the whole enjoyed a comfortable game. Only one save of note to make, turning over a drive from Gekas late on.
Cha Du-Ri – 8.0 - Drove forward impressively from right-back on several occasions during the first period, causing the Greeks all kinds of problems in broken play. His crossing matched his intent, creating a great chance for Park Chu-Young. A highly impressive performance.
Cho Yong-Hyung – 7.0 - Greece’s offensive unit wouldn’t cause the South Koreans too much bother from open play for the opening 70 minutes of the game. The center-back did make a couple of telling headers from dangerous crosses, including one at the very start of the match, helping to set the tone for his game.
Lee Jung-Soo – 7.5 - His most decisive contribution was to score the opening goal of the game, stealing in at the back post to side-foot home a free kick. Looked strong for the most part defensively, though there are sterner tests ahead.
Lee Young-Pyo – 7.0 - Didn’t offer the persistent threat of Cha in an attacking sense, but when he did push on, the former Tottenham Hotspur man was a valuable outlet. Solid at the back, he barely allowed the Greeks a sight of the byline.
Lee Chung-Yong – 6.5 - Flitted from wing to wing and offered an infrequent but potent threat in the first period. Showed some lovely technique and possibly should have had a penalty when he went to ground in the box with the goal looming. Should have offered more after the break.
Ki Sung-Yueng – 7.0 - Struggled to get a game for club side Celtic, but offered energy and effervescence in the heart of the midfield. It was his free kick that produced Lee Jung-Soo’s opener. Withdrawn with a quarter of an hour remaining.
Kim Jung-Woo – 6.5 - A more direct runner than Ki Sung-Yueng, Jung-Woo worked equally hard in the center of the park but perhaps had less of a telling influence on the match.
Park Ji-Sung – 8.0 - One sumptuous pass through for Park Chu-Young showed all the class of the Manchester United midfielder, whose work rate and effort was at a typically high level. Provided a great deal of thrust and leadership for his side.
Park Chu-Young – 7.5 - The Monaco striker never gave the Greek center-backs a moment’s peace. His aerial ability unsettled his taller opponents, though his finishing on the deck was found wanting when he ran through only to have a shot saved.
Yeom Ki-Hun – 6.5 – Was involved in the offensive rotation and, like his colleagues in attack, rarely stopped moving over the course of the match. He was not as prominent in the decisive areas of the field though.
Substitutes
Kim Nam-Il – 6.5 - ‘The Vacuum Cleaner’ came on with little over 15 minutes remaining to shore up the team but also looked to go forwards at times too.
Lee Seung-Yeoul – N/A – Was only given four minutes.
Jae-Sung – N/A – A stoppage time replacement.
Tzorvas – 6.5 - Made a crucial block from Park Chu-Young to prevent his side going 2-0 down just before the half-time interval but could do little about the other efforts that beat him. Would have looked to his defense for more meaningful protection.
Torosidis – 6.0 - Uncertain defensively at times in the first half, Torosidis did at least offer some genuine hope to his colleagues when he found himself in the South Korean half. Missed an early chance but was still keen to push forward.
Papadopoulos – 5.0 - Not quite as clumsy as his center-back colleague, but was still a great distance off the requisite level. Made elementary errors over the course of the game. His marking was poor, and his understanding with Vyntra was non-existent. Much relied on the center-backs, but they were both dire.
Vyntra – 4.5 - A desperately disappointing opening 45 minutes saw the centre-back bullied on several fronts. Lucky to escape when a slip allowed Park Ji-Sung through, though the referee pulled play back for a non-existent infringement. Didn’t get away with it when his heavy touch allowed the same player in to score the second, and a poor back pass nearly caused a third. Disastrous!
Seitaridis – 6.0 - South Korea may not have had the joy down the left that they had on the right, but Seitaridis equally didn’t offer a particularly potent threat going forward. Indeed, he wasted several good positions from which to cross from.
Karagounis – 5.5 - The Greek captain was certainly not ‘Captain Fantasic’. Failed to spark in the first period, which was run wholly by the South Koreans and was replaced at half-time as a result.
Tziolis – 5.5 - Caught dallying in possession too frequently and found to be too sluggish against more dynamic opponents. Didn't restrict the Koreans enough.
Katsouranis – 6.5 - Was poor for long periods of this match, seemingly more interested in arguing with team-mates than channeling his efforts properly, but when he got things going in the final 20 minutes he looked a real threat. Wasted arguably Greece’s best chance by slashing over.
Charisteas – 6.0 - Made captain in the second period when Karagounis was removed but lasted only an hour before being hooked. Part responsible for the opening goal of the game as he failed to jump for a crossed ball, his physical presence was wasted on the right hand side of what was meant to be an attacking trio.
Gekas – 7.0 – The pick of the Greece side, their top scorer in the qualification process worked hard and started to get his rewards as the match wore on. Showed his penalty box instincts when the ball was given to him in dangerous areas, but such occasions simply didn’t arise in the first hour.
Samaras – 5.5 - Started the game brightly, but as he has shown at club level, has a tendency to drift out of games and become anonymous. Withdrawn before the hour mark, a forgotten man from this encounter.
Substitutes
Patsa – 5.5 - Came on at half-time to try and shore up the team and give them a more robust look. Failed in his task.
Salpigidis – 7.0 - Was given the last half hour and belatedly injected some life into the offence.
Kapetanos – 6.5 - Like Salpigidis, was on the field for the final 30 minutes. Benefitted from being on the field during Greece’s best spell.
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Jung Sung-Ryong – 6.5 - Looked uncertain under a couple of Greek crosses and also seemed to lack communication with his defense at times but on the whole enjoyed a comfortable game. Only one save of note to make, turning over a drive from Gekas late on.
Cha Du-Ri – 8.0 - Drove forward impressively from right-back on several occasions during the first period, causing the Greeks all kinds of problems in broken play. His crossing matched his intent, creating a great chance for Park Chu-Young. A highly impressive performance.
Cho Yong-Hyung – 7.0 - Greece’s offensive unit wouldn’t cause the South Koreans too much bother from open play for the opening 70 minutes of the game. The center-back did make a couple of telling headers from dangerous crosses, including one at the very start of the match, helping to set the tone for his game.
Lee Jung-Soo – 7.5 - His most decisive contribution was to score the opening goal of the game, stealing in at the back post to side-foot home a free kick. Looked strong for the most part defensively, though there are sterner tests ahead.
Lee Young-Pyo – 7.0 - Didn’t offer the persistent threat of Cha in an attacking sense, but when he did push on, the former Tottenham Hotspur man was a valuable outlet. Solid at the back, he barely allowed the Greeks a sight of the byline.
Lee Chung-Yong – 6.5 - Flitted from wing to wing and offered an infrequent but potent threat in the first period. Showed some lovely technique and possibly should have had a penalty when he went to ground in the box with the goal looming. Should have offered more after the break.
Ki Sung-Yueng – 7.0 - Struggled to get a game for club side Celtic, but offered energy and effervescence in the heart of the midfield. It was his free kick that produced Lee Jung-Soo’s opener. Withdrawn with a quarter of an hour remaining.
Kim Jung-Woo – 6.5 - A more direct runner than Ki Sung-Yueng, Jung-Woo worked equally hard in the center of the park but perhaps had less of a telling influence on the match.
Park Ji-Sung – 8.0 - One sumptuous pass through for Park Chu-Young showed all the class of the Manchester United midfielder, whose work rate and effort was at a typically high level. Provided a great deal of thrust and leadership for his side.
Park Chu-Young – 7.5 - The Monaco striker never gave the Greek center-backs a moment’s peace. His aerial ability unsettled his taller opponents, though his finishing on the deck was found wanting when he ran through only to have a shot saved.
Yeom Ki-Hun – 6.5 – Was involved in the offensive rotation and, like his colleagues in attack, rarely stopped moving over the course of the match. He was not as prominent in the decisive areas of the field though.
Substitutes
Kim Nam-Il – 6.5 - ‘The Vacuum Cleaner’ came on with little over 15 minutes remaining to shore up the team but also looked to go forwards at times too.
Lee Seung-Yeoul – N/A – Was only given four minutes.
Jae-Sung – N/A – A stoppage time replacement.
Tzorvas – 6.5 - Made a crucial block from Park Chu-Young to prevent his side going 2-0 down just before the half-time interval but could do little about the other efforts that beat him. Would have looked to his defense for more meaningful protection.
Torosidis – 6.0 - Uncertain defensively at times in the first half, Torosidis did at least offer some genuine hope to his colleagues when he found himself in the South Korean half. Missed an early chance but was still keen to push forward.
Papadopoulos – 5.0 - Not quite as clumsy as his center-back colleague, but was still a great distance off the requisite level. Made elementary errors over the course of the game. His marking was poor, and his understanding with Vyntra was non-existent. Much relied on the center-backs, but they were both dire.
Vyntra – 4.5 - A desperately disappointing opening 45 minutes saw the centre-back bullied on several fronts. Lucky to escape when a slip allowed Park Ji-Sung through, though the referee pulled play back for a non-existent infringement. Didn’t get away with it when his heavy touch allowed the same player in to score the second, and a poor back pass nearly caused a third. Disastrous!
Seitaridis – 6.0 - South Korea may not have had the joy down the left that they had on the right, but Seitaridis equally didn’t offer a particularly potent threat going forward. Indeed, he wasted several good positions from which to cross from.
Karagounis – 5.5 - The Greek captain was certainly not ‘Captain Fantasic’. Failed to spark in the first period, which was run wholly by the South Koreans and was replaced at half-time as a result.
Tziolis – 5.5 - Caught dallying in possession too frequently and found to be too sluggish against more dynamic opponents. Didn't restrict the Koreans enough.
Katsouranis – 6.5 - Was poor for long periods of this match, seemingly more interested in arguing with team-mates than channeling his efforts properly, but when he got things going in the final 20 minutes he looked a real threat. Wasted arguably Greece’s best chance by slashing over.
Charisteas – 6.0 - Made captain in the second period when Karagounis was removed but lasted only an hour before being hooked. Part responsible for the opening goal of the game as he failed to jump for a crossed ball, his physical presence was wasted on the right hand side of what was meant to be an attacking trio.
Gekas – 7.0 – The pick of the Greece side, their top scorer in the qualification process worked hard and started to get his rewards as the match wore on. Showed his penalty box instincts when the ball was given to him in dangerous areas, but such occasions simply didn’t arise in the first hour.
Samaras – 5.5 - Started the game brightly, but as he has shown at club level, has a tendency to drift out of games and become anonymous. Withdrawn before the hour mark, a forgotten man from this encounter.
Substitutes
Patsa – 5.5 - Came on at half-time to try and shore up the team and give them a more robust look. Failed in his task.
Salpigidis – 7.0 - Was given the last half hour and belatedly injected some life into the offence.
Kapetanos – 6.5 - Like Salpigidis, was on the field for the final 30 minutes. Benefitted from being on the field during Greece’s best spell.
The 2010 World Cup is finally here, so keep up to date with all the news at Goal.com's World Cup homepage and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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