Substitute Hwang Hee-chan scored the winner in harm time to rescue South Korea from the brink of World Cup elimination in an exciting 2-1 victory over already-qualified Portugal on Friday.
South Korea’s gamers have fun on the finish of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group H soccer match between South Korea and Portugal on the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on 2 December 2022. Picture: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP
DOHA – Substitute Hwang Hee-chan scored the winner in harm time to rescue South Korea from the brink of World Cup elimination in an exciting 2-1 victory over already-qualified Portugal on Friday.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers’ ahead slipped within the winner within the 91st minute at Education City Stadium in Qatar to spark delirium and tears among the many Korean followers.
Talisman Son Heung-min, who arrange the winner, collapsed to the ground and lay on his again on the turf on the closing whistle. He had tears in his eyes.
The Korean gamers then stood in a huddle on the pitch watching the Ghana vs Uruguay match on a cell phone as they awaited their place within the last 16 to be confirmed.
A much-changed Portugal had taken a fifth-minute lead by means of Ricardo Horta however the Koreans, who had to win to stand any probability of staying alive, hit again within the twenty seventh minute by means of Kim Young-gwon.
Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo performed a component within the Korean equaliser, turning his again on a nook and the ball hitting him to arrange Kim.
South Korea and their skipper Son, in a masks after current surgical procedure, wanted to score once more however they failed to actually hassle Portugal till Son arrange Hwang in harm time after a fantastic run.
Before a ball was even kicked a roar went up at Education City Stadium each time Ronaldo’s face popped up on the massive display, even in the course of the nationwide anthems. There have been some jeers too and chants of “Messi, Messi”.
South Korea coach Paulo Bento, the previous (*16*) worldwide, had to watch from the stands after he was despatched off following the ultimate whistle of the Koreans’ 3-2 defeat to Ghana.
He noticed his males fall behind after simply 5 minutes when defender Pepe performed the ball down the precise to Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot.
Dalot simply evaded a weak Korean problem and pulled the ball again from the byline for winger Horta to fireplace unmarked into the again of the web in entrance of a 44,000 crowd.
With qualification already safe, Portugal made six modifications from the group that beat Uruguay 2-0, Dalot and Horta amongst these purchased in.
But they nonetheless seemed harmful each time they went ahead within the first half in opposition to a Korean defence lacking Napoli’s Kim Min-jae.
South Korean skipper Son, the Spurs ahead, was but to get going at this World Cup after surgical procedure for a fracture round his left eye in the beginning of November.
Wearing a black masks to shield the wound, the 30-year-old confirmed glimpses of his good greatest as South Korea chased the win they so badly wanted.
South Korea have been threatening to get on high and within the twenty seventh minute they have been degree.
The 37-year-old Ronaldo, absolutely taking part in at his last World Cup, unwittingly performed a central position within the South Korean aim.
Currently with no membership after his bitter departure from Manchester United, the ahead turned his again on a Korean nook and the ball hit his shoulder and fell straight to defender Kim to flip in.
The second half was extra of the identical – Portugal having fun with extra possession and stroking the ball round however South Korea and an more and more influential Son a menace on the break.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos introduced Ronaldo off on 65 minutes to save his legs, then attacker Hwang got here on and proved to be the hero on the loss of life.