Agüero not far off with a shot from a tough angle on the right, but it's ever so close.
90' +1
Shot on goal by Korea Republic
It's been a bit of a quiet game for Ji-Sung Park, but he gets in a drive that is smothered by Romero.
90'
Foul by Argentina
87'
Agüero with a deep run into the area bidding for a fifth, but a last-gasp tackle ruins his plans.
84'
You have to wonder how that missed equalizer might have changed the complexion of the game. That would have made it 2-2, but it is now 4-1. Deserved, however, for Argentina.
83'
Header on goal by Korea Republic
82'
M. Bolatti enters the game and replaces G. Higuaín.
Higuaín is replaced by Mario Bolatti and he gets a hero's greeting for his treble.
81'
Lee Dong-Gook enters the game and replaces Park Chu-Young.
80'
G. Higuaín has scored a goal for Argentina! Assist by S. Agüero.
Goal Argentina! And a hat trick for Higuaín! Messi lobs the ball in on the left for Agüero, and his cross to the back post is coolly headed in across goal by Higuaín.
Minute
Description
78'
Shot on goal by Argentina
76'
G. Higuaín has scored a goal for Argentina!
Goal Argentina! All the work done by Messi, and the poacher's finish for Higuaín's second of the game. Agüero plays Messi through on the left side of the area, and after his first shot is saved, the rebound goes off the post and right to Higuaín for the simplest of finishes. Brilliance from Messi and a 3-1 Argentina lead.
Shot on goal by Argentina
Shot against the post by Argentina
75'
S. Agüero enters the game and replaces C. Tevez.
Second sub is made by Diego Maradona as he brings on Sergio Agüero to replace Tévez.
74'
G. Heinze gets yellow.
The cheapest of yellows picked up Gabriel Heinze as he more than deliberately sticks his arm out to control a cross.
73'
Koreans finding more space in attack now. Chu-Young Park lays the ball neatly back to Nam-Il Kim, but the substitute's shot drags well wide of goal from 25 yards out.
70'
The ball is played to Higuaín at the top of the area, but his first-time effort is right into the arms of Jung.
Corner kick for Korea Republic
69'
Foul by Korea Republic
68'
Foul by Argentina
66'
Messi takes a long free kick and hits it toward the goal. It just needed a touch, but no one was able to direct it on.
65'
Foul by Korea Republic
64'
Chung-Yong Lee lifts in a ball for Beom-Seok Oh, but the fullback can't quite control it. Another dangerous-looking move by the Asian side.
61'
The Koreans look more lively now after that near-equalizer. Should be a cracking final half hour here at Soccer City.
59'
Header over the goal by Argentina
Foul by Korea Republic
58'
Shot wide of goal by Korea Republic
Corner kick for Argentina
Oh my. It should have been the equalizer. Ki-Hun Yeom is put in clear on the right side, but he lashes the shot into the side netting with Romero charging out. Looks like he hit it with his weaker foot, and that may well be the difference between 2-1 and 2-2 now.
57'
Dangerous little spell there for the Koreans, but they cannot get a ball on target against Romero.
56'
Corner kick for Korea Republic
55'
J. Mascherano gets yellow.
Foul by Argentina
That booking for Gutiérrez is big as it means he will miss Argentina's third game against Greece. Moments later, Javier Mascherano gets a booking of his own for coming in late on Nam-Il Kim.
Foul by Argentina
54'
J. Gutiérrez gets yellow.
A drive from the corner of the area by Tévez is parried away by Jung. Fortunate for him that it was just out of reach for Higuaín to tuck in on the rebound.
Shot on goal by Argentina
53'
Offside for Argentina
52'
Great save by Jung off of Higuaín as he directed a deft short pass by Di María on the target.
Corner kick for Argentina
51'
You get the sense that the scoring is not yet done in this game as Argentina look just as they did before conceding that late one in the first half.
49'
Offside for Argentina
48'
Shot wide of goal by Argentina
47'
One half-time sub to tell you about for the Koreans as veteran Nam-Il Kim replaces Sung-Yong Ki
Corner kick for Argentina
46'
Kim Nam-Il enters the game and replaces Ki Sung-Yueng.
The second half is under way 2 - 1
45' +2
Halftime score: 2 - 1
45' +1
Goal Korea Republic! A monumental defensive gaffe has given the Koreans life on the stroke of half-time. Demichelis can't control the ball, and it slips through for Chung-Yong Lee for an easy finish past a helpless Sergio Romero.
45'
Lee Chung-Yong has scored a goal for Korea Republic!
44'
What a bit of touch from Messi, but the finish is just off. The little man clears out space for himself at the top of the area, but the left-footed shot curls just wide of the goal.
Shot wide of goal by Argentina
42'
Foul by Argentina
41'
Offside for Argentina
40'
Jung punches away a cross by Higuaín, but only as far as Di María. The Benfica man unleashes a drive that is parried away for a corner. Almost the third goal there.
Corner kick for Korea Republic
37'
The Koreans' decision to play defensive seems to have backfired as the pressure of the skillful Argentina squad has really proven a handful.
35'
Foul by Argentina
Foul by Argentina
34'
Lee Chung-Yong gets yellow.
Foul by Korea Republic
33'
G. Higuaín has scored a goal for Argentina! Assist by N. Burdisso.
Goal Argentina! A chipped cross by Maxi Rodríguez is flicked to the back post by substitute Burdisso, and Gonzalo Higuaín is waiting to nod home. Great move by the South Americans.
32'
Foul by Korea Republic
29'
Header on goal goes wide by Korea Republic
28'
The effort is taken by Tévez, and powerfully at that. But the ball is just barely over the top. Always rising, that one.
Shot over the goal by Argentina
27'
Dangerous free kick at the top of the area as Messi goes down 25 yards from goal.
Foul by Korea Republic
26'
Foul by Argentina
23'
N. Burdisso enters the game and replaces W. Samuel.
It's going to be Burdisso on after all as Samuel's hamstring appears to be a bit more serious than first thought.
22'
Samuel quickly back on, though still walking gingerly. Nicolás Burdisso was stripped up and ready to go, but he now heads back to the bench.
21'
Play is stopped by de Bleeckere and it looks as if Walter Samuel has picked up a bit of a knock. He's now being worked on off the pitch.
20'
Nifty little chip on the free kick by Messi nearly finds Martin Demichelis in front. But the ball is just slightly overhit and into the arms of goalkeeper Jung.
19'
Foul by Korea Republic
18'
Sung-Yong Ki puts in a drive from 25 yards, and the young Celtic man doesn't miss the target by much.
17'
Shot wide of goal by Argentina
16'
Park Chu-Young is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
Goal Argentina! And it's an own goal for Chu-Young Park. Beom-Seok Oh concedes a free kick about 20 yards out near the left touchline, and Messi's cross is deflected in by a hapless Park.
15'
Foul by Korea Republic
Foul by Korea Republic
14'
Nice break up the left by Ángel Di Maria, but his cross for Messi is cut out. Numbers back quickly for Korea.
13'
A theme is starting to develop in this tournament, and it's ringing true for Argentina early here. One team is claiming a ton of possession, but they can't seem to get the ball on target. Korean goalkeeper Sung-Ryong Jung has not yet been tested in the slightest.
12'
Diego Milito is already up running around, but it's doubtful that he would be coming on this early.
10'
Yeom Ki-Hun gets yellow.
We have our first booking and it's quite an obvious one for Ki-Hun Yeom. More of a rugby tackle than a football challenge on Messi.
9'
Foul by Argentina
8'
Foul by Argentina
7'
Foul by Argentina
6'
Offside for Argentina
5'
So far, all of the ball has been with Argentina. The Koreans seem content to pack in the numbers, but surely they won't be able to continue that for 90 minutes against the quality of Argentina. But, then again, stranger things have happened in the World Cup.
4'
By the way, the man in charge of this game is Belgian referee Frank de Bleeckere.
Shot wide of goal by Argentina
3'
Foul by Korea Republic
2'
Argentina with early pressure and an early corner. Messi's outswinging effort from the near side is cleared, however.
1'
The match is under way 0 - 0
Foul by Korea Republic
Corner kick for Korea Republic
Good day to all and welcome to live coverage of Day 7 of the 2010 World Cup. We are at the main venue today - Soccer City in Johannesburg - for a Group B clash between Argentina and Korea Republic. The Koreans head the group after their 2-0 win over Greece on Saturday, and Argentina are close behind thanks to a 1-0 victory over Nigeria. Each side will be desperate to claim three points in this one to take a commanding edge in the group and all but secure a Round of 16 berth. As expected, the injured Juan Sebastián Verón gives way to Maxi Rodríguez for Argentina.
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