Fifa World Cup 2022: South Korea beat Portugal 2-1 to clinch spot in final 16
- Son Heung-min set up Hwang Hee-chan to score the injury-time winner, rescuing the Asian team from the brink of elimination
- Uruguay crash out of the tournament despite a 2-0 victory over Ghana
Substitute Hwang Hee-chan scored the winner in injury time to rescue South Korea from the brink of World Cup elimination in a thrilling 2-1 victory over already-qualified Portugal on Friday.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers’ forward slipped in the winner in the 91st minute at Education City Stadium in Qatar to spark delirium and tears among the Korean fans.
Talisman Son Heung-min, who set up the winner, collapsed to the floor and lay on his back on the turf at the final whistle. He had tears in his eyes.
The Korean players then stood in a huddle on the pitch watching the Ghana v Uruguay Group H match on a mobile phone as they awaited their place in the last 16 to be confirmed.
Hwang’s effort was enough to put the Koreans through to the knockout phase on goals scored, even though Uruguay beat Ghana 2-0.
A much-changed Portugal had taken a fifth-minute lead through Ricardo Horta but the Koreans, who had to win to stand any chance of staying alive, hit back in the 27th minute through Kim Young-gwon.
Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo played a part in the Korean equaliser, turning his back on a corner and the ball hitting him to set up Kim.