South Korea reached the second round of the World Cup for the first time on foreign soil after a 2-2 with Nigeria in their final Group B game.
Kalu Uche gave Nigeria a 12th-minute lead in Durban as he slipped in front of his marker Cha Du-ri to fire home from six yards.
But the Koreans were level before the break when Ki Sung-Yong floated a free-kick to the far post, where Lee Jung-Soo stooped to head the ball, missed it and instead notched in via his leg.
Park Chu-Young then gave the Koreans the lead with a free-kick that evaded everyone just four minutes after the break.
Nigeria missed a great chance to equalise in the 66th minute when Yakubu had an open goal just three yards but tapped the ball wide.
But he made amends three minutes later and showed more composure in front of goal by slotting in a penalty after Kim Nam-Il had brought down Chinedu Obasi inside the area.
South Korea will now face Uruguay on Saturday in the second round of the tournament.
Lineups:
Nigeria: Vincent Enyeama; Chidi Odiah, Joseph Yobo (Uwa Echiejile, 46), Danny Shittu, Rabiu Afolabi; Ayila Yussuf, Dickson Etuhu; Chinedu Obasi, Nwankwo Kanu (Obafemi Martins, 57), Kalu Uche; Yakubu (Victor Obinna, 70)
South Korea: Jung Sung-Ryong; Cha Du-Ri, Cho Yong-Hyung, Lee Jung-Soo, Lee Young-Pyo; Kim Jung-Woo, Ki Sung-Yong (Kim Jae-Sung, 87); Lee Chung-Yong, Park Ji-Sung, Yeom Ki-Hun (Kim Nam-Il, 64), Park Chu-Young (Kim Dong-Jin, 90)
Statistics:
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Kalu Uche gave Nigeria a 12th-minute lead in Durban as he slipped in front of his marker Cha Du-ri to fire home from six yards.
But the Koreans were level before the break when Ki Sung-Yong floated a free-kick to the far post, where Lee Jung-Soo stooped to head the ball, missed it and instead notched in via his leg.
Park Chu-Young then gave the Koreans the lead with a free-kick that evaded everyone just four minutes after the break.
Nigeria missed a great chance to equalise in the 66th minute when Yakubu had an open goal just three yards but tapped the ball wide.
But he made amends three minutes later and showed more composure in front of goal by slotting in a penalty after Kim Nam-Il had brought down Chinedu Obasi inside the area.
South Korea will now face Uruguay on Saturday in the second round of the tournament.
Lineups:
Nigeria: Vincent Enyeama; Chidi Odiah, Joseph Yobo (Uwa Echiejile, 46), Danny Shittu, Rabiu Afolabi; Ayila Yussuf, Dickson Etuhu; Chinedu Obasi, Nwankwo Kanu (Obafemi Martins, 57), Kalu Uche; Yakubu (Victor Obinna, 70)
South Korea: Jung Sung-Ryong; Cha Du-Ri, Cho Yong-Hyung, Lee Jung-Soo, Lee Young-Pyo; Kim Jung-Woo, Ki Sung-Yong (Kim Jae-Sung, 87); Lee Chung-Yong, Park Ji-Sung, Yeom Ki-Hun (Kim Nam-Il, 64), Park Chu-Young (Kim Dong-Jin, 90)
Statistics:
| Nigeria | South Korea | |
| 2 | Goals | 2 |
| 3 | Shots on target | 8 |
| 8 | Shots off target | 7 |
| 1 | Corners | 7 |
| 23 | Fouls | 12 |
| 1 | Offsides | 2 |
| 3 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 47 | Ball possession (%) | 53 |
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