Higuain hits hat-trick as Argentina storm past South Korea

A much-improved Argentina side demonstrated their World Cup credentials with a commanding 4-1 win against South Korea.

A hat-trick from Gonzalo Higuain and an own goal secured a victory which puts Maradona’s men in prime position to advance to the last 16 as Group B winners.

Defensive doubts remain, however, as the South Americans gifted their opponents a soft goal and risked ruining their impressive work.

Having been blown away in the first half by a fluid attacking display from Argentina, South Korea offered more resistance in the second period and threatened to equalise on more than one occasion.

Argentina took an early lead when South Korea’s Park Chu-Young deflected Lionel Messi’s crossed free-kick into his own net.

Higuain then doubled the advantage when he took advantage of Nicolas Burdisso’s flicked header to nod in at the back post.

The gloss was taken off a fine first half performance when Martin Demichelis allowed Lee Chung-Yong to steal in and give South Korea a lifeline on the stroke of half-time.

But Higuain tapped in a third Argentina goal, and then headed in a fourth late on following a sweeping counter-attack, to seal an emphatic win which will have alarmed their rivals in South Africa.

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