Rampant Algeria see off South Korea

Algeria have defeated South Korea 4-2 in Porto Alegre following a dominant first-half display to win their first World Cup game in 32 years.

Vahid Halihodzic's side raced into a three-goal lead before the interval and then held out for a victory which lifts them up to second place in Group H.

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The tone was set early on when Sofiane Feghouli collected a cross from inside the box in the opening minute which was struck over the bar.

Algeria continued their positive start by creating another opening, which Islam Slimani skied over having seen teammate Feghouli go down inside the box with appeals for a penalty waved away.

Slimani was involved again moments later when he found himself unmarked at the back post, but he could only head into the side netting.

The lively striker did manage to get his name on the scoresheet on 26 minutes, however, shrugging off the challenge of two defenders to lift over Jung Sung-Ryong after a long ball over the top.

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The Fennec Foxes continued their domination of the first half by adding a second just two minutes later courtesy of Rafik Halliche's header from a corner, which flew past the out-rushing Jung into the back of the net.

Things soon went from bad to worse for South Korea on 37 minutes when Abdelmoumene Djabou added his name to the scoresheet having slid the ball beyond Jung after being played in by Slimani.

The Asian outfit came out much stronger in the second half, and they hit back five minutes after the interval through Song Heung-Min's composed left-footed finish.

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Korea upped the tempo further, and came close to adding a second when Ki Sung-Yeung tried his luck from range to no avail.

Yet just when the Taeguk Warriors had began to build up some momentum, Algeria struck a killer blow by finding the net once more thanks to Yacine Brahimi who fired low into the bottom corner to make it 4-1 shortly after the hour mark.

Koo Ja-Cheol pulled another back for Korea with 20 minutes remaining when he guided the ball home following a shot from Yong Lee, but Hong Myung-Bo's side failed to create any more openings to ensure Algeria took all three points.