Match ends, Russia 1, South Korea 1.
World Cup 2014: Russia 1-1 South Korea
- From the section 2014 Fifa World Cup
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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
- 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
- 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
Full Time
Second Half ends, Russia 1, South Korea 1.
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.
Koo Ja-Cheol (South Korea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Alan Dzagoev (Russia).
Booking
Koo Ja-Cheol (South Korea) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.
Hand ball by Koo Ja-Cheol (South Korea).
Attempt blocked. Igor Denisov (Russia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Alexander Kokorin (Russia) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Aleksandr Samedov with a cross.
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.
Koo Ja-Cheol (South Korea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Sergei Ignashevitch (Russia).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, South Korea. Kim Bo-Kyung replaces Son Heung-Min.
Delay in match Han Kook-Young (South Korea) because of an injury.
Attempt missed. Alan Dzagoev (Russia) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Attempt blocked. Alexander Kokorin (Russia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dmitriy Kombarov.
Corner, Russia. Conceded by Kim Young-Gwon.
Corner, South Korea. Conceded by Dmitriy Kombarov.
Kim Young-Gwon (South Korea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Alexander Kerzhakov (Russia).
Attempt blocked. Son Heung-Min (South Korea) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lee Keun-Ho.
Goal!
Goal! Russia 1, South Korea 1. Alexander Kerzhakov (Russia) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Andrey Eshchenko.
Attempt saved. Alan Dzagoev (Russia) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Andrey Eshchenko.
Substitution
Substitution, South Korea. Hwang Seok-Ho replaces Hong Jeong-Ho.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Russia. Igor Denisov replaces Denis Glushakov.
Delay in match Hong Jeong-Ho (South Korea) because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Russia. Alexander Kerzhakov replaces Yuri Zhirkov.
Attempt blocked. Denis Glushakov (Russia) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dmitriy Kombarov.
Goal!
Goal! Russia 0, South Korea 1. Lee Keun-Ho (South Korea) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Han Kook-Young.
Jung Sung-Ryong (South Korea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Alexander Kokorin (Russia).
Attempt saved. Dmitriy Kombarov (Russia) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Denis Glushakov.
Attempt blocked. Andrey Eshchenko (Russia) right footed shot from long range on the right is blocked.
Attempt saved. Hong Jeong-Ho (South Korea) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ki Sung-Yueng with a cross.
Yun Suk-Young (South Korea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Andrey Eshchenko (Russia).
Substitution
Substitution, Russia. Alan Dzagoev replaces Oleg Shatov.
Ki Sung-Yueng (South Korea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.