DOHA, Qatar
South Korea upset the odds to reach the World Cup knockout stages, with qualification confirmed after an agonising wait for the full-time whistle in Uruguay's game against Ghana.
Hwang Hee-Chan struck in the 90th minute to secure an unlikely victory over Portugal, putting South Korea above Uruguay in Group H on goals scored.
Uruguay were 2-0 up against Ghana when news filtered through of South Korea's winning goal, but they could not find the third goal they needed despite pouring forward in eight minutes of stoppage time.
Group H was so competitive that it wasn’t until eight minutes after the final whistle blew that South Korea knew their fate: Uruguay’s 2-0 victory against Ghana was not enough to edge Son’s men on goal difference.
The South Korean team huddled on the centre circle, crowding round a phone showing the final, frantic, moments of their rivals’ game before exploding into joyous celebrations as they marked making it beyond the World Cup’s group stage for only the third time.
Portugal had already qualified for the knock-out stages before this final group game, and made six changes from the team that beat Uruguay 2-0; Dalot and Horta among those bought in. The Koreans had to win to stand any chance of going through.
Before a ball was even kicked a roar went up at Education City every time Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo’s face popped up on the big screen, even during the national anthems. There were some jeers too and chants of “Messi, Messi”.
South Korea coach Paulo Bento, a former Portuguese international, had to watch from the stands after he was sent off following the final whistle of the Koreans’ 3-2 defeat to Ghana.
He saw his men fall behind after just five minutes when defender Pepe played the ball down the right to Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot.
Dalot easily evaded a weak Korean challenge and pulled the ball back from the byline for winger Horta to fire unmarked into the back of the net in front of a 44,000 crowd, scoring in his debut at a major tournament.
After the early opener, Kim Younggwon gave the Koreans hope in the 27th minute when a corner struck Ronaldo on the back and fell kindly for the defender to sweep the ball home for the equaliser.
But Portugal still looked dangerous every time they went forward in the first half against a Korean defence missing Napoli’s Kim Minjae. The second half was more of the same – Portugal enjoying more possession and stroking the ball around, but with South Korea and an increasingly influential Son a threat on the break.
South Korean skipper Son, the Tottenham Hotspurs forward, was yet to get going at this World Cup after surgery for a fracture around his left eye at the start of November.
Wearing a black mask to protect the wound, the 30-year-old showed glimpses of his brilliant best as South Korea chased the win they so badly needed.
The last-gasp victory for South Korea catapulted them from fourth to second place in Group H. They will play the winner of Group G, likely to be Brazil – but nothing can be guaranteed in this World Cup.
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