Argentina have been shortened by the bookmakers to win the 2010 World Cup after a Gonzalo Higuain hat-trick helped Diego Maradona’s side beat South Korea 4-1 .
Argentina played well right from the kick-off, with coach Diego Maradona sticking with the 4-3-3 formation used in the 1-0 win over Nigeria although surprising opting to again play Newcastle winger Jonas Gutierrez at right-back.
South Korea were quick to close down the likes of Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez, but Argentina broke the deadlock in the 16th minute as Lionel Messi’s free-kick from the left of the pitch met the leg of Park Chu-Young, who put the ball in the back of his own net when under little pressure to make it 1-0. South Korea tried to get back into the game but could have conceded a second just 10 minutes later when Tevez’s 30-yard free-kick only narrowly went over the bar.
But Argentina’s didn’t need long to make it 2-0. After Tevez had won a free-kick near the corner flag, Maxi Rodriguez’s cross into the box was flicked on by Nicolas Burdisso towards Gonzalo Higuain who found himself unmarked at the far post to head home after 32 minutes. Argentina continued to push forward with Lionel Messi’s 20-yard chip beating the keeper but only just going wide on the stroke of half-time.
But South Korea failed to give up, and deep into first half injury time, Lee Chung Yong capitalised on some weak defending from Martin Demichelis to make it 2-1. Argentina came out strong again in the second half with Higuain going close, but South Korea themselves looked threatening at times, with Chung Yong shooting wide from close range after his run put him at a tough angle to get his shot on target.
It became a wide-open game, with the Koreans looking dangerous at times going forward, but Argentina finally got the breakthrough they needed after 76 minutes when Lionel Messi got in behind the South Korea defence, with his shot cannoning back off the post and into the path of Higuain, who tapped in from close range to make it 3-1. The third goal killed the game off and Argentina piled forward again, with Messi’s clever chip playing in Sergio Aguero, who crossed for Higuain to head home, again from close range, to complete his hat-trick and make the score 4-1.
So whilst Leo may not have scored today, his performance was a positive one, having a big influence in three of the Argentine goals. It is also worth remembering that Leo was deployed in a deep midfield role in this game.
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