South Korea takes 1-0 lead over Greece at halftime of opening Group B match

SKorea leads 1-0 vs. Greece at halftime

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa — South Korea applied most of the pressure against a tentative Greece and led 1-0 at halftime in their opening Group B match at the World Cup.

Ki Sung-yong’s seventh-minute free kick went over a group of players to an unmarked Lee Jung-soo at the far post. He tapped it in to convert South Korea’s first chance on goal.

Under sunny skies and at a 45,000-seat Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium that was only about two-thirds full Saturday, Park Chu-young nearly put South Korea up 2-0 in the 28th minute after a clean break. His shot was deflected over the bar by Greece goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas.