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South Korea's Son Heung-min celebrates with his teammate Ki Sung-Yueng after scoring a last-minute goal against Qatar in Seoul. Photo: Reuters

Son scorches Qatar with late South Korean winner

Substitute Son Heung-min prodded home a 96th minute winner to give South Korea a precious 2-1 win over Qatar in Seoul on Tuesday and put them in sight of another World Cup finals appearance.

Substitute Son Heung-min prodded home a 96th minute winner to give South Korea a precious 2-1 win over Qatar in Seoul on Tuesday and put them in sight of another World Cup finals appearance.

The 20-year-old striker was in the right place at the right time to complete the easiest of finishes after a looped shot from fellow replacement Lee Dong-gook hit the crossbar and fell away from Qatari goalkeeper Qasem Burhan.

“I was amazed that Son Heung-min showed his great ability as a soccer player in only 15 minutes and I expect a lot from him for the remaining games and he will grow stronger,” Korea coach Choi Kang-hee told reporters.

I was amazed that Son Heung-min showed his great ability as a soccer player in only 15 minutes and I expect a lot from him for the remaining games and he will grow stronger

“It was such a dramatic victory. Korean players did not give up till the very end and were strong willed. For that I am very grateful.”

The three points moved South Korea on to 10 points from five matches in Group A, one behind leaders Uzbekistan who beat bottom side Lebanon 1-0 in Tashkent.

With just two teams from each of the two Asian groups guaranteed a place in Brazil, Qatar’s heartbreaking loss leaves them facing an outside chance of reaching a first finals as they sit on seven points from six games, level with Iran but having played a game more.

The third place finishers can also book a berth if they win through two play-off rounds against another Asian side and a South America team.

But the Koreans are unlikely to require that route after a rousing finale in Seoul on Tuesday which followed a drab first half where the Qataris affectively strangled the life out of the contest.

Poor composure by the home side in the final third was also to blame for the early stalemate with Korean coach Choi turning to his bench early in the second period and the introduction of Lee Dong-gook changed the game.

The more direct approach following the arrival of the 33-year-old forward led to the opening goal with a floated ball into the penalty area expertly flicked home by Lee Keun-ho on the hour mark.

The Asian Player-of-the-Year, currently completing his military service at home, was afforded some rare space to loop his header over the despairing dive of Qatari goalkeeper Qasem Burhan.

The celebrations that followed perhaps went on too long, though, as Qatar made a rare foray forward into the Koreans half three minutes later and Khalfan Ibrahim was afforded too much room on the edge of the area to toe poke a cheeky effort in at the near post.

Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong, left unemployed for most the match, will feel he could have done better with the playmaker’s effort having got a hand to the low strike.

With the Qataris holding firm despite the huge waves of Korean pressure, coach Choi turned to his bench again to introduce Son for the final minutes, much to the pleasure of the home fans, and the poster boy came up with the goods in a dramatic finale.

They next face an away clash against Lebanon in June, while Qatar play their penultimate pool qualifier at home to Iran.

“Tonight, we showed that my team is good enough to advance to the World Cup next year,” an emotional Qatari coach Fahad Thani said.

“I am dissatisfied the way referees ruled today. They gave one more minute than we were supposed to and it worked in Korea’s favour.”

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