Siddhanta Pinto in South Africa
World Cup Sid - Rediff.com's man in South Africa, Siddhanta Pinto - shares his experience of watching the first Round of 16 match between Uruguay and South Korea.
Summerstrand in Port Elizabeth, a beautiful beautiful drive past the pristine ocean got us to the Marine Hotel.
And surprise, surprise! I see the Uruguay team bus on their way to their round of 16 knock-out game. Notice the security man upset with me as I jump right in front of their motorcade to take some pictures.
I find my way to the stadium from the top of Sydenham, 2 hours in advance, and already, there are lots who have beaten me to it.
Uruguay fans cheer and scream before the match.
Nope not a vuvuzela, it's a Kuduzela!
Uruguay's star player Diego Forlan emerges for warm up to rapturous applause.
Football crazy Bangla brothers.
Say hello to the South Korea fans.
Time for the National Anthems.
A brilliant South Korean free-kick lined up in the first few minutes...
And hits the post!
Immediately at the other end, the brilliant Diego Forlan with a superb piece of skill, gets the better of his defender and sends in a low cross.
And the opportunistic Luis Suarez scores.
All players do not rush to Suarez, some hoist Forlan, for it is clearly a goal for his hard work.
Vuvuzelas resound. Non-Stop!
And then the heavens open up. It is freezing in the light blowing rain. People from the lower uncovered levels (such as myself) rush up towards shelter in a surprisingly not-so-packed stadium.
And then some Suarez magic begins. Notice the positioning of players, and how he curls his foot around the Jabulani.
Sorry Goalie, this is just too beautiful a shot.
Dejection...
And unbridled joy.
And this is how the first knock-out match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup ended.
Congratulations to a deserving Uruguay team!
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