Hwang Hee-goal chan’s in the 91st minute gave South Korea a 2-1 victory over Portugal and guaranteed them a spot in the 2022 World Cup’s knockout stage.
Despite the loss, Portugal still finished first in Group H. Fernando Santos’ team will play the Group G runners-up on Tuesday night in the round of 16, which could be Brazil, Switzerland, Cameroon, or Serbia.
Hee-goal chan’s lifted South Korea above Uruguay into second place in the section of goals scored while the team was down and out until the final moments of the game.
Ricardo Horta gave the European team the lead in the fifth minute of the match as Santos’ team knew they needed a point to guarantee finishing first in their group.
Kim Young-gwon tied the game in the 27th minute, and South Korea, whose head coach Paulo Bento was watching after being sent off against Ghana the previous time around, won it in stoppage time of the second half. However, they had to wait until Uruguay’s match against Ghana was over before their progression was officially announced.
Bento’s team will now play the Group G winners, who could also be Brazil, Switzerland, Cameroon, or Serbia, in the next round on Monday. Despite winning the section, Portugal’s loss is a setback as they now attempt to advance past the round of 16 for the first time since finishing fourth in 2006.
A Selecao took control in the 5th minute of play when Horta scored with a deft finish after Diogo Dalot, who was launched into the starting XI with Santos shifting his pack, made an excellent run and cross.
Portugal survived after some shoddy defending after South Korea’s Kim Jin-su had the ball in the back of the net in the 17th minute, but it was determined to be offside.
However, Bento’s team did manage to draw even in the 27th minute when Young-gwon scored from close range after the ball fell kindly for him inside the Portugal box. In the 34th minute, Dalot forced a deft save from the South Korean goalkeeper before Costa had to stop a shot from Son Heung-min at the other end of the field.
Vitinha’s shot was deflected back into the penalty area by Kim Seung-gyu late in the first period, giving Cristiano Ronaldo the opportunity to give Portugal the lead once more. However, the number seven headed wide. Horta attempted to score, but South Korea’s goalkeeper once more had to make a save to stop him, as the teams went into halftime level.
In the 65th minute, Portugal manager Santos made three substitutions, with Ronaldo being one of them. Costa then had to make two deft saves, first stopping a powerful drive from Hwang In-beom and then stopping Son.
Rafael Leao missed the goal 20 minutes from time, and Joao Cancelo’s late shot was deflected wide, but South Korea scored the winning goal with seconds left when Son passed to Hee-chan, who finished to set off spectacular scenes.
After only five minutes, Horta scored on his World Cup debut to give Portugal the lead. Twenty minutes later, South Korea equalised thanks to Kim Young-quick gwon’s response to a Ronaldo error. Both teams were very patient with their build-up play during the first half’s slow tempo of play.
However, Portugal was the team that had the upper hand, forcing Kim Seung-gyu into five saves. Up until Son Heung-counterattack min’s and Hwang Hee-winning chan’s goal in the 91st minute to advance South Korea to the knockout stages, the second half was mostly quiet.
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