South Korea's Hwang Ui-jo might have made the miss of World Cup 2022, skying a chance from mere yards
(Image credit: FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARIT/AFP via Getty Images)
Hwang Ui-jo of South Korea might have made the miss of World Cup 2022 so far.
30-year-old Hwang joined Nottingham Forest in the summer from Bordeaux following the Ligue 1 club's relegation but was loaned out to Olympiacos immediately. And though the Tricky Trees are struggling in the Premier League, they perhaps aren't wishing they kept him in the fold after this stinker.
When the ball arrived from the right flank, it came with a fair amount of pace – but still… not hitting the target from around 12 yards out was massively disappointing.
It should be 1-0 South Korea! 🤦Hwang Ui-jo can't believe he's missed...#BBCWorldCup #BBCFootballNovember 24, 2022
South Korea managed to hang on in during the first half with Uruguay coming closer to scoring. Darwin Nunez had to drop particularly deep to collect possession but the best chance of the half came when Diego Godin managed to connect with the woodwork, as the Koreans breathed a sigh of relief.
Korea – who fielded five players called Kim in defence and in goal – controlled a very different second half, limiting the Uruguayans to any real chances, with Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez failing to find former Reds star Luis Suarez when he broke through the opposition backline and slid the ball into the goalkeeper's gloves.
Even Son Heung-min couldn't believe how bad this game was… (Image credit: ANP via Getty Images)
With all the talk before the game about Son Heung-min, who was thought to be a doubt, the Tottenham Hotspur forward managed to get through the game with a face mask. Son injured his cheekbone during the Lilywhites' Champions League win away at Marseille and hadn't played competitive football since.
Luis Suarez and former Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani, featured with the latter replacing the former as a substitute, to both compete at a fourth World Cup tournament each.
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At least Hwang has contributed to something, though – Uruguay vs South Korea was the first game ever at a World Cup with absolutely no shots on target. History made, lads.
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Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
