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Klinsmann still awaits first win as Uruguay beats South Korea

The former Germany and U.S. coach was appointed last month and his first match in charge was a 2-2 home draw with Colombia on Friday

Published: Tue 28 Mar 2023, 10:48 PM

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Jurgen Klinsmann directs his players during a friendly match against Uruguay in Seoul on Tuesday. — AFP

Jurgen Klinsmann directs his players during a friendly match against Uruguay in Seoul on Tuesday. — AFP

Jurgen Klinsmann is still waiting for his first win as head coach of South Korea after Uruguay triumphed 2-1 in a friendly played at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Tuesday.

The former Germany and U.S. coach was appointed last month and his first match in charge was a 2-2 home draw with Colombia on Friday.


After Korea progressed to the second round of last year's World Cup at the expense of Uruguay, the result provided some measure of revenge for the visiting team.

The meeting between the two teams in Qatar ended 0-0 but it only took Sebastian Coates 10 minutes to open the scoring for Uruguay, after he rose above the Korean defence to head home a corner from Federico Valverde.

Six minutes into the second half, midfielder Hwang In-beom fired home a shot from inside the penalty area. But Lazio's Matias Vecino grabbed the winner in the 63rd minute, scoring from close range after goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo parried a Joaquin Piquerez free-kick.

With six minutes remaining, Kim Young-gwon headed home but the goal was ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper.

Japan and Australia, who also reached the second round of the 2022 World Cup, fell to home defeats against South American opposition.

Despite taking a third-minute lead in Osaka against Colombia thanks to a powerful header from Brighton’s in-form winger Kaoru Mitoma, Japan was beaten 2-1.

Colombia equalised just after the half-hour through Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran before Rafael Borre sealed the victory with a spectacular overhead kick on 61 minutes

Just four days after defeating Ecuador 3-1 in Sydney, Australia lost to the same opposition 2-1 in Melbourne.

Brandon Borrello put the Socceroos ahead after 16 minutes but two second-half goals, the first a Pervis Estupinan penalty and the second from William Pacho after 65 minutes, gave Ecuador the win.

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