South Korea scores injury time winner to reach W'Cup knockout stages
Substitute Hwang Hee-chan scored the winning goal in injury time to save South Korea from the brink of World Cup elimination in a thrilling 2-1 win over Portugal already qualified on Friday.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers striker slipped in the 91st-minute winner at the Education City stadium in Qatar to spark delirium and tears among Korean fans.
Talisman Son Heung-min, who placed the winner, collapsed to the ground and lay on his back on the grass at the final whistle. He had tears in his eyes.
Korean players then gathered on the pitch to watch Ghana v Uruguay on a mobile phone as they waited for their place in the Round of 16 to be confirmed.
A much changed Portugal had taken the lead in the fifth minute through Ricardo Horta but the Koreans, who needed to win to have any chance of staying alive, fought back in the 27th minute through Kim Young -gwon .
Portuguese skipper Cristiano Ronaldo was instrumental in Korea's equalizer, turning his back on a corner and the ball hitting him to set up Kim.
South Korea and skipper Son, masked after recent surgery, were expected to score again, but they didn't really hinder Portugal until Son put Hwang in injury time after a great race.
Even before a ball was kicked, a roar went up at the Education City Stadium every time Ronaldo's face appeared on the big screen, even during the national anthems. There were also mockery and chants of "Messi, Messi".
South Korea coach Paulo Bento, the former Portugal international, had to watch from the stands after he was sent off following the final whistle in the Koreans' 3-2 loss to Ghana.
He saw his men fall behind after just five minutes when defender Pepe kicked the ball past Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot's right.
Dalot easily dodged a weak Korean challenge and pulled the ball off the touchline for winger Horta to shoot unmarked into the back of the net in front of a crowd of 44,000.
With qualification already secured, Portugal made six changes from the side that beat Uruguay 2-0, Dalot and Horta among those bought.
But they still looked dangerous every time they advanced in the first half against a Korean defense in the absence of Napoli's Kim Min-jae.
South Korean skipper Son, the Spurs striker, had not yet left for this World Cup after undergoing surgery for a fracture around his left eye in early November.< /p>
Wearing a black mask to protect the injury, the 30-year-old showed a glimpse of his best as South Korea chased the much-needed win.
South Korea threatened to take over and in the 27th minute they equalized.
Ronaldo, 37, probably playing his last World Cup, unwittingly played a central role in the South Korean goal.
Currently without a club after his bitter departure from Manchester United, the striker turned his back on a Korean corner and the ball hit his shoulder and landed directly on defender Kim to turn around.< /p>
The second half was more or less the same: Portugal enjoyed more possession and stroked the ball, but South Korea and an increasingly influential Son threatened to pause.
Portuguese coach Fernando Santos brought Ronaldo off in the 65th minute to save his legs, then striker Hwang came on and proved to be the hero of death.
AFP
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Substitute Hwang Hee-chan scored the winning goal in injury time to save South Korea from the brink of World Cup elimination in a thrilling 2-1 win over Portugal already qualified on Friday.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers striker slipped in the 91st-minute winner at the Education City stadium in Qatar to spark delirium and tears among Korean fans.
Talisman Son Heung-min, who placed the winner, collapsed to the ground and lay on his back on the grass at the final whistle. He had tears in his eyes.
Korean players then gathered on the pitch to watch Ghana v Uruguay on a mobile phone as they waited for their place in the Round of 16 to be confirmed.
A much changed Portugal had taken the lead in the fifth minute through Ricardo Horta but the Koreans, who needed to win to have any chance of staying alive, fought back in the 27th minute through Kim Young -gwon .
Portuguese skipper Cristiano Ronaldo was instrumental in Korea's equalizer, turning his back on a corner and the ball hitting him to set up Kim.
South Korea and skipper Son, masked after recent surgery, were expected to score again, but they didn't really hinder Portugal until Son put Hwang in injury time after a great race.
Even before a ball was kicked, a roar went up at the Education City Stadium every time Ronaldo's face appeared on the big screen, even during the national anthems. There were also mockery and chants of "Messi, Messi".
South Korea coach Paulo Bento, the former Portugal international, had to watch from the stands after he was sent off following the final whistle in the Koreans' 3-2 loss to Ghana.
He saw his men fall behind after just five minutes when defender Pepe kicked the ball past Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot's right.
Dalot easily dodged a weak Korean challenge and pulled the ball off the touchline for winger Horta to shoot unmarked into the back of the net in front of a crowd of 44,000.
With qualification already secured, Portugal made six changes from the side that beat Uruguay 2-0, Dalot and Horta among those bought.
But they still looked dangerous every time they advanced in the first half against a Korean defense in the absence of Napoli's Kim Min-jae.
South Korean skipper Son, the Spurs striker, had not yet left for this World Cup after undergoing surgery for a fracture around his left eye in early November.< /p>
Wearing a black mask to protect the injury, the 30-year-old showed a glimpse of his best as South Korea chased the much-needed win.
South Korea threatened to take over and in the 27th minute they equalized.
Ronaldo, 37, probably playing his last World Cup, unwittingly played a central role in the South Korean goal.
Currently without a club after his bitter departure from Manchester United, the striker turned his back on a Korean corner and the ball hit his shoulder and landed directly on defender Kim to turn around.< /p>
The second half was more or less the same: Portugal enjoyed more possession and stroked the ball, but South Korea and an increasingly influential Son threatened to pause.
Portuguese coach Fernando Santos brought Ronaldo off in the 65th minute to save his legs, then striker Hwang came on and proved to be the hero of death.
AFP
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