35 NGAKOR Benquerença
Poor Yakubu. To take the penalty given after that miss took some nerve, and he scored, but it wasn't enough - Nigeria had to win and didn't, the final 2-2 score was enough for South Korea to advance.
Olegário Benquerenca was appointed for this important but not that sonorous match. Contrary to his first match, where he adopted the most pedantic foul selection I have ever seen in a World Cup match, Benquerença cast himself as football's friend here. Not losing sight that Portuguese referee didn't have to face one of the competition's hardest matches here, he reffed this very well.
Benquerença got the most important decision of the evening correct (68') - an easy one for him, given that he was following play closely and well-positioned even if the Korea defender unexpected lost possession of the ball. Was a caution really necessary here, other than to sell the penalty call?
As in that famous opener for him (at least for me :)), Portuguese referee was still attentive in aerial duels, but this time judged them fairly, including the foul whose freekick was scored for the second Korea goal. His foul selection was just normal in this match; he let the players play in accordance with their fair attitude to the match.
As in that famous opener for him (at least for me :)), Portuguese referee was still attentive in aerial duels, but this time judged them fairly, including the foul whose freekick was scored for the second Korea goal. His foul selection was just normal in this match; he let the players play in accordance with their fair attitude to the match.
Ayila Yussuf was attentively watched by Benquerença, who was right to let him off at 7', but then crossed the line and was rightly booked at 42'. A wandering Vincent Enyeama was even a bit unlucky that the referee - to his credit - had the perfect insight angle to this small holding foul; Chinedu Obasi's tackle was perhaps even more careless than reckless for me, but that caution was (tactically) a good one.
As in Japan - Cameroon, though by rather different means, Benquerença managed to present himself as a force for good on the pitch who the players easily accepted as a leader. This was the most impressive part of his performance in my opinion. I had the strong impression that both teams appreciated his officiating a lot - always a good signal!
Benquerença could vary his mimics a bit more from just the calm gesture (5', 11', +47', 54', 86'), should avoid blowing the halftime whistle at such an irritating moment (football understanding!) and a minor point of criticism would be the inconsistent way he judged a few ball-playing tackles at the start (5', 11', 15').
Quiet game for the assistants.
| Olegário Benquerença - 8,5 José Cardinal - 8,4 Bertino Miranda - 8,4 Marco Rodríguez José Luis Camargo POR – MEX | Nigeria 2-2 Korea Republic Group Stage 22 June |
 Enyeama (31') - SPA (Holding) Obasi (37') - Tackle Ayila (42') - Persistent Infringement | Kim Nam-il (68') - Tackle |
Benquerença did well this time, far less permissive with some good signals caution-wise. Catching Ayila for PI shortly before the break after letting him go for two fouls very early in the watch was one such incident. The penalty call was obvious, but especially in the hectic second half, he contributed a lot to the fair outcome of the match. It wasn't that easy but there were no complaints afterwards, so the Portuguese trio could look forward to a knockout game.
ReplyDelete