WORLD CUP: Algeria defeat South Korea in six-goal thriller

GROUP H

KOREA REPUBLIC 2-4 ALGERIA

SUNDAY 22ND JUNE – PORTO ALEGRE

Algeria are looking good to follow Belgium out of Group H into the last 16, as they triumphed over Korea Republic in an exhilarating 4-2 victory in Porto Alegre.

Algeria exploded out of the blocks and the Koreans could not get it together against the fast, direct style that the North Africans unleashed upon them.

After the first 25 minutes, Algeria had fired enough warnings to the Koreans, however, the Asians did not catch on and in the 26th minute, they found themselves a goal down. Islam Slimani got the goal latching onto a long ball over the top from Carl Medjani. The striker ran directly between his markers, controlled perfectly and poked the ball beyond Jung Sung-Ryoung.

It was 2-0 within two minutes. From a corner, Jung made the dangerous decision to come and punch the ball, but found himself completely misjudging which allowed Rafik Halliche to nod home with ease.

The Koreans were in disarray and ten minutes later, Algeria grabbed a third with another long ball causing confusion in the opposition defence. Slimani again collected the ball and set up the unmarked Abdelmoumene Djabou to slot home.

The Koreans came out after the interval looking for the ultimate comeback and grabbed a goal five minutes after the restart. There was an element of fortune to the goal, as a long-ball initially struck Bayer Leverkusen’s Son Heung-Min on the back, but the striker readjusted and got past Mahjid Bougherra before poking the ball past Rais M’Bolhi’s.

Korea continued to press as they controlled proceedings, but Algeria struck with a killer blow.Just past the hour mark, Yacine Brahimi combined with Sofiane Feghouli and the Granada man slid under the approaching Jung to restore the three-goal advantage and kill off any hopes of a comeback for South Korea.

Korea were not finished and grabbed themselves a second as Koo Ja-Cheol bundled home Lee Keun-Ho’s cross after Son had seen his effort blocked, reducing the discrepancy back to two.

Algeria now sit second in Group H, three points ahead of Russia and if they can avoid defeat against the Russians, then Algeria progress alongside Belgium.

TEAMS

KOREA REP: S R Jung, S Y Yun, Y G Kim, H M Son, C Y Park (S W Kim 57), Y Lee, J C Koo, K Y Han (D W Ji 78), S Y Ki, C Y Lee (K H Lee 64), J H Hong.

GOALS: H M Son 50, J C Koo 72.

BOOKINGS: Y Lee 54, K Y Han 69.

ALGERIA: Mbolhi, Bouguerra, Halliche, Mesbah, Feghouli, Brahimi (Lacen 77), Medjani, Slimani, Bentaleb, Djabou (Ghilas 73), Mandi.

GOALS: Slimani 26, Halliche 28, Djabou 38, Brahimi 62.

BOOKINGS: Bougherra 67.