WORLD CUP 2010: Argentina 4 South Korea 1: Gonzalo Higuain grabs hat-trick as Diego Maradona's men march on

By Michael Walker in Soccer City, Johannesburg
Last updated at 1:27 AM on 18th June 2010

Argentina have upped the tempo among the World Cup favourites, raised the bar in
scoring terms and can already begin thinking about coming back to this stadium on Sunday week to meet the runners-up in Group A — Uruguay’s group.

Diego Maradona’s team found more form yesterday than they had against Nigeria. In Gonzalo Higuain, the country have their first scorer of a World Cup hat-trick since Gabriel Batistuta at France 98, which is a heritage the Real Madrid striker will savour.

But while it may sound mean to Higuain, the first was a softish header that should have been saved by South Korea keeper Jung Sung-ryong and the second was a tap-in.

Higuain’s third, a close-range header, was well-placed, a diagonal finish into the far corner. Higuain was awarded the obligatory man-of-the-match award but it was a missed opportunity.

Flying high: Gonzalo Higuain was the hero for Argentina

Lionel Messi provided one of those moments that will outlast the memory of any of Higuain’s goals. It came in the 80th minute when Messi, faced by a red cluster of Korean defenders, produced one of his handbrake turns and then took Korea out of the game with a sublime chip.

It fell perfectly for the impressive substitute Sergio Aguero — on for Carlos Tevez — and his intelligent first-time cross found the head of Higuain.

That made the score 4-1 and concluded Higuain’s hat-trick, but it was Messi’s lob that took the breath away. You could hear the reaction in the stadium.

The image of the maestro: Lionel Messi weaves through the massed ranks of red South Korea shirts (above), just as Diego Maradona did against Belgium in his World Cup heyday in 1982 (below right)

This was not a Messi spectacular but it was a step up in class from his performance against Nigeria, which was not exactly poor. If Messi keeps on improving, then this could indeed be his tournament. A disappointing South Korea were never able to come to grips with the Barcelona dribbler.

Yeom Ki-hun was booked on 10 minutes for blocking Messi and when, seven minutes later, there was another Argentina free-kick, Messi whipped it in with trademark pace and Park Chu-young shinned it past his own keeper.

The one Argentina goal Messi was not involved in was the next. Tevez, who had a determined match, won a free-kick. It was taken short to Javier Mascherano, whose cross was met by Higuain at full stretch. His header was accurate but Jung dived under the bouncing ball.

Heads I win: Higuain nods home the ball to complete his treble

At 2-0 Maradona’s men were comfortable. But as the first half withered, Martin Demichelis stalled in possession 20 yards out, and Bolton’s Lee Chung-yong nipped in and did well to beat Sergio Romero.

That meant a degree of doubt, and the result would have become an issue had Yeom not squandered a great pass from Lee Chung-yong on 58 minutes.

Pure delight: Diego Maradona celebrates his team's third goal

But Yeom hit the side-netting, Argentina regained their control and thanks to Messi and Aguero, Higuain plundered two more.

Maradona was a contented manager. He said he had ‘a certain peace of mind — I have 23 top players, you feel great, you feel happy’.

He was so happy he apologised to Michel Platini for Wednesday’s remarks — Platini had sent Maradona a clarification — ‘but not to Pele’.

And when he was asked about the physical affection shown to his players, the 49-year-old Maradona’s eyes popped at the perceived implication.

He replied: ‘I prefer women. I am dating Veronica, she is 31, blonde and beautiful!’

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