PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (AP) — South Korea will try to apply lessons learned in their group-stage defeat to Argentina when they face another Latin American opponent — Uruguay — in the round of 16 today.

It’s the first of two second-round match-ups pitting Asia against Latin America, the continents with the most to be pleased about at this year’s World Cup. Japan take on Paraguay in the other knock-out battle on Tuesday.

South Korea fell 1-4 to Argentina in Group B — their only loss in the tournament — after a Gonzalo Higuain hat trick and an own goal.

“Of course we did lose against Argentina but I think it was a good opportunity to learn how to fight against Latin American teams,” Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung said yesterday.

Uruguay beat South Korea 1-0 at the 1990 World Cup when Daniel Fonseca scored in the 90th minute to put the South Americans into the round of 16.

The winner of today’s match will face either the United States or Ghana in the quarter-finals at Soccer City in Johannesburg on July 2.

In today’s other martch, Ghana carry Africa’s hopes at the World Cup when they meet the United States with the latter set on avenging a contentious loss four years ago.

The Ghanians reached this round of 16 at the 2006 World Cup — also as Africa’s last remaining representative — courtesy of a penalty that still rankles with the Americans.

“An injustice,” said defender Oguchi Onyewu, who was adjudged to have fouled Razak Pimpong while going for a header. “I still to this day don’t know where the foul came from.”

Ghana midfielder Stephen Appiah converted from the spot to clinch a 2-1 win and eliminate the US.

In the first Group C matches, the US held England to a 1-1 draw and recovered from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Slovenia and had a third American goal disallowed in the final minutes.