Higuaín hat-trick delights Argentina
Thursday, June 17, 2010
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Argentina 4-1 Korea Republic
Gonzalo Higuaín struck three times as Diego Maradona's side turned on the style to maintain their perfect record in Group B.
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Gonzalo Higuaín scored a hat-trick as Argentina defeated Korea Republic 4-1 to continue their perfect start in FIFA World Cup Group B.
The Real Madrid CF striker completed his treble in the 80th minute, finishing off a tidy team move with a header, having previously struck either side of Lee Chung-Yong's goal for South Korea in first-half added time. Argentina, who went ahead through Park Chu-Young's own goal, next face Greece on Tuesday, when Nigeria are the Asian side's opponents.
Despite Argentina's array of attacking talent, Diego Maradona's team had hardly created a chance of note when Park failed to pick up a Lionel Messi free-kick on 17 minutes and the ball bounced into the net off his standing leg. After Higuaín had doubled the lead with a header, South Korea's goal also came from a defensive lapse as Lee robbed Martín Demichelis outside the box and finished with aplomb.
South Korea's hopes disappeared with Yeom Ki-Hoon's shot wide just before the hour, as Higuaín tapped in Messi's instinctive shot before becoming the first player since Portugal's Pauleta in 2002 to score a World Cup hat-trick by heading in Sergio Agüero's lobbed pass.