Enyeama: 4 – Wasn't nearly as confident this time around as we've seen him in the past in South Africa. Dropped the ball at least twice from long range efforts which could have ended in a South Korean goal had someone been lurking. Somehow managed to wrong foot himself on Chu-Young's free kick.
Afolabi: 5 – Struggled at times and committed a few needless fouls.
Shittu: 4 – Conceded the foul that led to South Korea's second goal. Failed to deal with the speed and guile of the South Korean forwards.
Yobo: 5 – Hooked at the break for a younger Echiejile due to a lack of pace.
Odiah: 5 – Started off well, linking up well with Obasi down the right, but quickly faded into obscurity.
Etuhu: 6 – Distribution was good, tackles were fine, etc. Everything looks fine on paper, but the London-raised Nigerian didn't do much to influence the game.
Ayila: 5 – Similar to Etuhu, but picked up a needless yellow. Most of the play – from both teams – really came from the flanks tonight.
Uche: 7.5 – Scored the first goal. Snuck in expertly at the back post to poke the ball past Jung Sung-Ryong. Was unlucky to hit the post with a venomous long-range drive and always looked to do something positive with the ball.
Kanu: 6 – Played a decent match, but definitely doesn't have the legs to keep up at a world-class level any more.
Obasi: 7.5 – The second of Nigeria's outstanding players, Obasi played in multiple through-balls to his toothless forwards. Wasn't rewarded at all for his great work throughout.
Yakubu: 4 – His control was absolutely shocking throughout. Everton boss David Moyes will look to get short of 'The Yak' after seeing how dreadfully he played tonight. Always half a yard behind the ball, he could have scored on multiple occasions had he been sharper. Scored a penalty to “make up” for missing an open goal in the sitter of the century.
Substitutes
Echiejile: 5 – Replaced Yobo at half-time, but didn't make any noteworthy difference.
Martins: 5 – Similar to Yakubu, but not quite as bad. Looked like he might have been sharp enough to finish one off for the Super Eagles, but was shown up after missing out on two occasions.
Obinna: 6 – Lively when he got the ball. Nearly scored a winner twice in the dying minutes, but the two shots went just wide of the mark.
SOUTH KOREA
Jung Sung-Ryong: 5 – Couldn't do much about the goals, but two still got past him.
Lee Young-Pyo: 5 – Fooled a few times in the first half and almost allowed Uche and Odiah to link up for a second goal. Had a really poor shot on goal in the second half when he should have passed.
Lee Jung-Soo: 7 – Kept Yakubu quiet and scored a goal after sneaking in at the back post just before the first half came to a climax.
Cho Yong-Hyung: 6 – Also kept 'The Yak' from doing any real damage with his pressure, but did nothing much more than that.
Cha Du-Ri: 6 - Got forward expertly just after Uche's goal and almost provided an assist for an instant reply. However, the forward-turned-full-back's lack of concentration led to Uche's goal.
Park Ji-Sung: 7.5 - Ever the workhorse, the Manchester United star put in a real captain's shift tonight. Despite having to settle for a draw, he ultimately led his country to the last 16 after carving out chance after chance.
Kim Jung-Woo: 6 – Showed up Kanu with the running he did throughout. Distribution was good and always looked to do something positive with the ball.
Ki Sung-Yong: 6.5 – The young Celtic man did a world of running tonight for his country, distributing the ball well wherever he went.
Lee Chung-Yong: 6 – He behaved himself this time after picking up a yellow in his previous encounter. He got forward early on and could have scored the first goal of the game. Managed a shot on target too.
Yeom Ki-Hun: 7 – Deliveries from set pieces were always good and provided the assist for Lee Jung-Soo's goal. Was inexplicably hooked for a poorly performing Kim Nam-Il
Park Chu-Young: 7 – Denied a few times by Enyeama with sliding attempts early on. Chu-Young's persistence paid off when he beat Enyeama with a beautifully placed bending free-kick. Got himself about well throughout.
Substitutes
Kim Nam-Il: 3 – Brought on to shore things up, 'The Hoover', who is supposedly a defensive midfielder, used his first touch to blaze a highly ambitious shot well over the bar from distance. Went on to further ruin his reputation as a professional footballer when he scythed down Obasi in Sung-Ryong's box. Ruined the lead for his side.
Ki Sung-Yong: N/A – Came on with only 5 minutes left to play.
글쓰기