Match ends, Russia 1, South Korea 1.
RussiaRussia1South KoreaSouth Korea1
Former England coach Fabio Capello saw his Russia side come from behind to draw with South Korea in Group H thanks to a goal by Aleksandr Kerzhakov.
The substitute drove the ball home to join Vladimir Beschastnykh as Russia's all-time top scorer with 26 goals.
South Korea had led through a long-range shot from Lee Keun-ho that squirmed through the hands of goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.
Belgium top the group after their earlier win over Algeria.
The late excitement in Cuiaba was in stark contrast to much of what had gone before.
South Korea had been marginally the more inventive side, although they needed a significant amount of luck to take the lead as the edgy Akinfeev gifted them the opening goal.
But the substitutions by Capello - who led England to the last 16 in 2010 - proved crucial for Russia, looking to build a platform from which to advance to the knockout stages for the first time since the Soviet Union reached the second phase in 1986.
Son Heung-min had Korea's best two chances of the first half, linking well with Arsenal striker Park Chu-Young on both occasions. But he failed to hit the target with either chance, while captain Koo Ja-cheol saw a deflected shot fly just wide.
Russia had been limited to long-range efforts, Sergey Ignashevich's free-kick forcing Jung Sung-ryong into an unconvincing save.
Neither goalkeeper inspired much confidence and after Jung had tipped a shot from Victor Fayzulin over the bar in the first minute of the second half, captain Vasily Berezoutski headed into the side netting from the resulting corner.
The sides then traded speculative shots and Akinfeev struggled to keep out a free-kick from Kim Young-Gwon.
But that was nothing compared with the error he made on 68 minutes, when he allowed a 25-yard head-height shot from substitute Lee to slip through his hands and into the net.
Russia, however, had been showing more urgency since the introduction of Alan Dzagoev, and a second Capello substitution paid off almost immediately.
Kerzhakov, the 31-year-old Zenit St Petersburg forward and record goalscorer in Russian domestic football, had been on the field for just three minutes when he struck to earn a deserved point on the eve of the Italian's 68th birthday.
Dzagoev's low shot was well saved but South Korea could not clear and when the ball cannoned into Kerzhakov, he showed the necessary composure to fire home a right-footed shot from six yards out.
Russia saw the chance to press for a winner and Alexander Kokorin went close with two headers before Aleksandr Samedov fired well wide in stoppage time.
Russia boss Fabio Capello told BBC Sport:
"It was a good game, they ran a lot in the first half and then felt tired. You saw the goal they scored, it was not easy to react.
"But the players were really good and most important for me was the reaction. We also twice had a chance to score a second goal.
"I know Kerzhakov did well, he's a fantastic player. He always offers us a way to score goals."
South Korea coach Hong Myung-bosaid:
"In such a tournament, the first match is the most difficult. There is a lot of pressure on it, so I thought the players played very well.
"I think our players really did their utmost on the pitch today. Tactically and physically, each and every moment they played intelligently.
"We focused our rhythm and organisation on this match. I think it worked well. The condition of players and organisation of the team was good."
Line-ups
Russia
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Akinfeev
- 22Eshchenko
- 23Kombarov
- 20Faizulin
- 14Berezoutski
- 4Ignashevitch
- 19Samedov
- 8GlushakovSubstituted forDenisovat 72'minutes
- 9Kokorin
- 17ShatovBooked at 49minsSubstituted forDzagoevat 59'minutes
- 18ZhirkovSubstituted forKerzhakovat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Kozlov
- 3Schennikov
- 5Semenov
- 6Kanunnikov
- 7Denisov
- 10Dzagoev
- 11Kerzhakov
- 12Lodygin
- 13Granat
- 15Mogilevets
- 16Ryzhikov
- 21Ionov
South Korea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Jung
- 12Lee Yong
- 3Yun
- 16Ki Sung-yuengBooked at 30mins
- 20HongSubstituted forHwangat 72'minutes
- 5Kim Young-Gwon
- 17Lee
- 14Han
- 10ParkSubstituted forLeeat 56'minutes
- 13Koo Ja-CheolBooked at 90mins
- 9Son Heung-MinBooked at 13minsSubstituted forKimat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Kim
- 4Kwak
- 6Hwang
- 7Kim
- 8Ha
- 11Lee
- 15Park
- 18Kim Shin-Wook
- 19Ji
- 21Kim Seung-gyu
- 22Park Joo-Ho
- 23Lee
- Referee:
- Néstor Pitana
- Attendance:
- 37,603
Match Stats
Home TeamRussiaAway TeamSouth Korea
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away5
- Corners
- Home4
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Russia 1, South Korea 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Aleksandr Samedov (Russia) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Alexander Kokorin with a cross.
Post update
Koo Ja-Cheol (South Korea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Alan Dzagoev (Russia).
Booking
Koo Ja-Cheol (South Korea) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.
Post update
Hand ball by Koo Ja-Cheol (South Korea).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Igor Denisov (Russia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alexander Kokorin (Russia) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Aleksandr Samedov with a cross.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alexander Kokorin (Russia) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Dmitriy Kombarov with a cross.
Post update
Koo Ja-Cheol (South Korea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Sergei Ignashevitch (Russia).
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, South Korea. Kim Bo-Kyung replaces Son Heung-Min.
Post update
Delay in match Han Kook-Young (South Korea) because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alan Dzagoev (Russia) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Alexander Kokorin (Russia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dmitriy Kombarov.
Post update
Corner, Russia. Conceded by Kim Young-Gwon.
Post update
Corner, South Korea. Conceded by Dmitriy Kombarov.
Post update
Kim Young-Gwon (South Korea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
