After all the talk of Brazil and Argentina, perhaps it is time we started taking Uruguay more seriously when it comes to potential South American champions. Oscar Tabárez's side may not play with the same flair and commitment to attack but they have a formidable goal-scorer in Luis Suárez and the draw has been as inviting to La Celeste as they could possibly have dared hope.
They will certainly fancy their chances in a quarter-final against the USA or Ghana on Friday. Uruguay are compact, organised and disciplined. They do not go in for little back-heels or stepovers but they are drilled in the art of togetherness, and it makes them a tough side when they combine that kind of defensive expertise with being blessed with one of the more prolific strikers on the planet.
Suárez was the scorer of both Uruguay goals, taking his total to 55 goals in 61 games for club and country over the last season, and with a record like that it is no surprise the Ajax player is being linked to so many of Europe's leading clubs.
The first will be remembered as a goalkeeping mistake – the story of this World Cup – after Jung Sung-ryong misjudged the trajectory a low cross to leave his net exposed, but the second was a sublime finish that deserves to make it on to the shortlist for goal of the tournament.
In between, Lee Chung-yong of Bolton Wanderers scored the first goal that Uruguay have conceded so far in their four matches, capitalising on some unusual indecision among the Uruguayan defence to head beyond Fernando Muslera.
South Korea will also reflect on several other chances during a second half played in torrential rain but the game was won nine minutes from the end when Suárez turned past a couple of challenges and struck a wonderful, diagonal shot from the corner of the penalty area and in off the post. © Guardian News and Media 2010
DPA adds
Suarez named man-of-the-match
Luis Suarez, who scored both of Uruguay’s goals against South Korea in the World Cup’s Round of 16 opener, was named FIFA Man of the Match.
The Ajax striker now has three goals in the tournament, putting him at the top of the list of scorers along with three other players.
Suarez, 23, entered the match with 32 international caps and 10 goals.
