Korea Republic men’s national team have earned a priceless point in their opener of the campaign in Qatar.

Paulo Bento’s charges drew 0-0 with Uruguay in their opening match of Group H in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 that was staged at the Education City Stadium in Al Ryyan. The Taegeuk Warriors are up against Ghana at the same venue in four days’ time.

Son Heungmin, still recovering from a facial injury, started alongside central forward Hwang Uijo and winger Na Sangho, who got the nod ahead of injured Hwang Heechan.

Lee Jaesung, Jung Wooyoung and Hwang Inbeom started in midfield. Kim Jinsu, Kim Younggwon, Kim Minjae and Kim Moonhwan at the back; Kim Seunggyu between the sticks.

Uruguay made a nervy start, as if they tried to avoid an upset similar with those inflicted by Saudi Arabia and Japan the other day. They sat down to bolster their rearguard whilst looking for their opportunities to counter with long balls.

After taking more of the ball possession, Korea Republic made their intentions clear with a warning shot from Son on 26 minutes. Against the run of play the Uruguayans fought back almost immediately, but Kim Seunggyu did well to parry the ball ahead of Darwin Nuñez.

Eight minutes later, Korea Republic missed a glorious chance to take the lead. Kim Moonhwan’s low cross from the right side of the area was connected by an onrushing Hwang Uijo, whose point-blank effort went just over the crossbar. At the opposite end, Diego Godin saw his glancing header off a corner hit the left post on the stroke of halftime.

The battle intensified after the interval, as Son and Kim Minjae struggled against reckless challenges from their opponents. As Uruguay began to seize control, the men in red found themselves on the back foot midway through the second half.

Bento responded by making a triple substitution, as Cho Guesung, Son Junho and Lee Kangin came off the bench on 74 minutes. The latter, in particular, made an instant impact setting up Cho’s audacious effort within three minutes after his debut on the biggest stage.

With both sides desperate to score a last-gasp winner in the closing minutes, Son capitalised on a goalkeeper’s mistake to fire a left-foot shot from the edge of the area that went just wide of the right post.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Group H

Uruguay 0-0 Korea Republic

KOREA : KIM Seunggyu(GK), KIM Jinsu, KIM Younggwon, KIM Minjae, KIM Moonhwan, JUNG Wooyoung, HWANG Inbeom, SON Heungmin(c), LEE Jaesung (SON Junho 74’), NA Sangho (LEE Kangin 74’), HWANG Uijo (CHO Guesung 74’)