South Korea v Ghana predictions: Goals set to be in short supply

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for South Korea v Ghana in World Cup Group H on Sunday.

Where to watch

BBC One, 1pm Monday

Best bet

Under 1.5 goals
1pt 7-4 bet365

This promises to be a tense affair between two teams in need of maximum points. South Korea played out a 0-0 draw with Uruguay in their World Cup opener, a game that featured just one shot on target, and although Ghana lost 3-2 to Portugal they did so despite having just three efforts on goal.

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Match preview

This looks a must-win match for South Korea and Ghana if they are to any have realistic aims of reaching the knockout phase of the competition, but that may only add to the pressure.

Ghana were beaten by Portugal in a five-goal thriller in their Group H opener while South Korea’s first game was polar opposite as they played out a goalless draw with Uruguay.

But this showdown looks more likely to be a tense affair like South Korea’s curtain-raiser than littered with entertainment reminiscent of Ghana’s gung-ho game with the Portuguese.

However, despite seeing five goals, Ghana’s opener had been goalless until Cristiano Ronaldo’s 65th-minute penalty sparked the contest into life and the Black Stars scored twice from just three shots on target.

South Korea looked extremely well-organised in their 0-0 draw with Uruguay and their shape and structure should serve them well against Ghana.

Head coach Paulo Bento will be hoping he has Napoli defender Min-Jae Kim fit in time to play, but 12 clean sheets in their last 19 international matches shows their authority.

Thwarting a Uruguayan attack featuring the likes of Luis Suarez, Darwin Nunez and Edinson Cavani is no mean feat and Ghana don’t boast the same quality, relying mainly on the services of Athletic Bilbao’s Inaki Williams, who still awaits his first goal for his country, and exciting Ajax youngster Mohammed Kudus.

That said, for all their defensive resoluteness, the Taegeuk Warriors were unable to get the best out of their attacking talents and they failed to force a single save from Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet.

Heung Min-Son is the creator in chief for South Korea but he was often isolated on the wing against the Uruguayans and if they are to succeed then you sense it is on him to deliver.

Despite conceding three against Portugal, Ghana are also renowned for their defensive discipline and they had kept six clean sheets in eight games prior to that.

One of those games they conceded in was in defeat to World Cup favourites Brazil, so Ghana head coach Otto Addo will be backing his defence to stay sturdy against the team from Asia.

That lends itself to low-scoring encounters and that is often the way in Ghana’s games, who have seen under 2.5 goals click in 21 of their last 30 internationals.

Given one or both teams have failed to score in South Korea’s last ten competitive games, it may be wise to expect the Asian outfit to be embroiled in another nervy affair.

Under 2.5 goals looks a solid play for odds-on bettors but this promises to be tight and perhaps only one goal may be needed to settle matters.

Key stat

There have been just two goals scored across South Korea's last three internationals matches.

Team news

South Korea
Hee-Chan Hwang is not expected to recover from a hamstring injury so Gue-Sung Cho could replace Ui-Jo Hwang in attack. Napoli defender Min-Jae Kim faces a late fitness test.

Ghana
Captain Andre Ayew and defender Alidu Seidu are expected to be available despite injury fears. Ayew, Alidu, Inaki Williams and Mohammad Kudus are one booking away from a suspension.

Probable teams

South Korea (4-3-3) Seung-Gyu Kim; Moon-Hwan Kim, Young-Gwon Kim, Min-Jae Kim, Jin-Su Kim; Woo-Young Jung, Hwang In-Beom, Jae-Sung Lee; Sang-Ho Na, Gue-Sung Cho, Heung-Min Son.

Ghana (5-3-2) Ati-Zigi; Seidu, Amartey, Djiku, Salisu, Baba; Partey, Sulemana, Kudus; A Ayew, Williams.

Inside info

South Korea

Top scorer in probable team Heung-Min Son
Star player Heung-Min Son
Penalty taker Heung-Min Son
Assist ace Woo-Yeong Jung
Set-piece aerial threat Min-Jae Kim
Card magnet Woo-Young Jung

Ghana

Top scorer in probable team Andre Ayew
Star player Thomas Partey
Penalty taker Andre Ayew
Assist ace Andre Ayew
Set-piece aerial threat Inaki Williams
Card magnet Mohammed Salisu

South Korea v Ghana Bet Builder

Under 2.5 goals
Under 2.5 goals has landed in 21 of Ghana’s last 30 international matches and that trend could be enhanced against South Korea, who failed to register a shot on target in their 0-0 draw with Uruguay.

Mohamed Salisu to be carded
The Southampton centre-back has picked up four yellows in 14 Premier League appearances this term, having been booked ten times in 34 games last season.

Under 10.5 corners
With goalmouth action expected to be scarce, corners may also be hard to come by. There were seven in Uruguay's opener and only six in Ghana's.

Price guide 9-1