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VAR assistance sees Sweden past disappointing South Korea

Sweden's Emil Forsberg celebrates at the end of the World Cup qualifying play-off second leg soccer match between Italy and Sweden, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)
Roar Guru
18th June, 2018
0

Sweden have returned to the World Cup with an opening win over a disappointing South Korea, who after a solid first half, failed to turn up in the second.

Click here to re-live The Roar’s live blog of the game.

A penalty to Andreas Granqvist in the 65th minute was the difference between the two sides, as Sweden finished the match 1-nil winners, joining Mexico as first up winners in group F.

This match was characterised by physicality. Both teams traded fouls throughout the match, the clash of bodies occurring in all parts of the field, at every stage of the match.

South Korea played a disciplined first half, defending with strength and in good positions. Goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo putting in a commanding performance between the posts, as Sweden came in with shot after shot.

Korea’s resistance could not seem to be broken. Instead, with every Swedish attack they withstood, you expected them to break and score a goal of their own.

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Alas, after half-time, Korea never turned up, and while it was a penalty that separated the sides, you always felt that Sweden’s time was coming. Korea on the other hand would not get a single shot on target for the entire match.

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The match was also signified by the involvement of VAR, with Sweden screaming at the referee for a penalty after a tackle by Kim Min-Woo on Viktor Claesson, screams which appeared to fall upon deaf ears.

However, when the game next stopped, the referee got the telltale touch on his ear. Upon further viewing, it was clear that the Korean defender had been nowhere near the ball, and heavily fouled his opponent. The referee had no hesitation upon further viewing in pointing to the spot. Granqvist made no mistake.

Son Hweung-min was a standout for Korea, and was involved in everything that Korea did well. However, it was late in the game that Korea’s best, and admittedly only, chance came, when in late stoppage time, Hwang Hee-chan had a clean header on goal to salvage a point for the Asian giants.

Alas, Hwang’s header would be off target, and the game was essentially finished.

Korea will now truly be up against it to make the knock-out stage of this tournament, particularly keeping in mind they have Germany to come.

As for Sweden, with three points in the bank, they can look to the rest of the tournament with hope and vigour, they’re only concern being the 15 shots on target that produced the single goal, and that one being a penalty.

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