South Korea advances at World Cup after wild finish to group


PTI, Dec 3, 2022, 8:05 AM IST

Floating in the Euphoria of Victory: South Korea players celebrate after the World Cup group H soccer match against Portugal, at the Education City Stadium, Qatar, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (Credit: AP)

Al Rayyan: South Korea’s players formed a circle in the center of the field and trained their eyes on several cell phones showing a nearby match that would decide their future at the World Cup.

The South Koreans had just about done their job, beating Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates 2-1 on a stoppage-time goal.

Now came an agonizing wait. To advance to the round of 16, they just needed Uruguay to not score a goal against Ghana in the other group match that still had at least six minutes to play.

Thousands of red-and-white-clad South Korea fans had whipped out their phones, too. Some prayed. Others were crying, just like captain Son Heung-min in the players’ huddle.

They could soon really party.

South Korea advanced on the tiebreaker of goals scored, pushing Uruguay into third place Friday in one of the wildest finishes to a group in the tournament’s 92-year history.

“It really feels like a miracle,” South Korea striker Cho Gue-sung said.

South Korea and Uruguay finished with four points and both had a goal difference of zero, but the Asian team scored four goals compared to Uruguay’s two. The reward is a match against Brazil in the last 16.

“We never gave up,” Son said through tears. ”Our players were trying to run an extra step more, sacrificing themselves, and that allowed us to achieve a good result.“ When the Uruguay-Ghana game finished 2-0 and South Korea was sure of its second-place finish, the players on the field erupted in joy, hugging each other and squirting water in the air.

Then they got in a line and sprinted toward their fans behind one of the goals at Education City Stadium before performing a dive in front of them.

South Korea was tied at 1-1 and heading out of the tournament when a Portugal corner got cleared and Son led a length-of-the-field breakaway in the first minute of added time. He got crowded out by Portugal’s retreating defenders but had the presence of mind to slip a pass through an opponent’s legs and into the path of Hwang Hee-chan, who placed a low finish past goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

Hwang, who came on as a substitute for his first match at this year’s World Cup, removed his jersey and flexed his muscles. Some of his teammates fell to the ground. But there were still five minutes more of stoppage time to play.

When the final whistle blew, Son — who was sobbing with joy — and other teammates dropped dramatically to the turf, banging their fists. South Korea coach Paulo Bento, who is Portuguese, waited patiently in the tunnel while the Uruguay-Ghana match played to a finish. He couldn’t be with his players because he was serving a suspension for a red card in South Korea’s last game.

Hwang didn’t play in South Korea’s first two games because of a left hamstring injury but entered as a 66th-minute substitute against Portugal. He said the coaching staff told him: ”You’re going to create something.” Portugal had already advanced after two games and won the group, assuring Ronaldo of at least one more match in Qatar as he seeks his first World Cup title in likely his final attempt. The team will play Switzerland next.

Ricardo Horta, starting up front alongside Ronaldo, had given Portugal the lead in the fifth minute when he converted a first-time shot off a cross from right back Diogo Dalot.

South Korea equalized with a helping hand from Ronaldo after an outswinging corner struck his back as he turned away from the ball. Kim Young-gwon swept the loose ball into the net in the 27th minute to start a comeback that had the most dramatic of endings.

“What we achieved here is special,” Son said, ”and I am so proud of our players.

“Making the last 16 was our goal. We did our best every game, but you just can’t predict what happens in football.”

LATE GOALS

South Korea’s players are getting used to providing late drama. Four of the team’s last seven goals at the World Cup have been scored in the 90th minute or later.

RONALDO

Ronaldo started for the third straight group game but was substituted after an ineffective 65 minutes. If he starts as expected in the last 16, he’ll have played four games in 13 days at the World Cup — having only been used for Manchester United before the tournament.

THIRD TIME

South Korea has advanced from the group stage for the third time. The team reached the semifinals on home soil in 2002 and lost in the last 16 in 2010.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Burglars decamp with cash Rs 1 crore, 300 gold sovereigns from house in Kerala

Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls

Perth Test: Bumrah leads India to its biggest Test win on Australian soil

Sambhal violence: FIR against SP MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, SP MLA’s son

Six junior artists of Kannada film ‘Kantara’ injured in accident in Karnataka

MNS at risk of losing recognition, symbol after drawing blank in Maharashtra polls

‘Wicked’ and ‘Gladiator’ make gravity-defying theatre debuts

Related Articles More

Perth Test, Day 4: Siraj removes Smith as Australia go into lunch at 104 for five

Skipper Rohit Sharma hit nets following arrival in Perth, will play two-day game in Canberra

Chennai Super Kings can use R Ashwin in a number of ways: Stephen Fleming

IPL 2025 | Got someone who can do captaincy job: Ricky Ponting on Shreyas Iyer

I played with fearless mindset, took brave decisions: Yashasvi Jaiswal

MUST WATCH

Coconut Flower

Prakash Belawadi

Naxal Leader Vikram Gowda

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing

DK Shivakumar


Latest Additions

Ranbir on criticism for doing ‘Sanju’, ‘Animal’: Important to dabble in different genres, characters

Youth Congress demands Adani’s arrest over USD 250 mn bribery charge

Study links overthinking to ‘constant communication’ between brain’s fear-centre, social behaviour

Sometimes I like to take backseat and do films where pressure is not on me: Taapsee Pannu

Puttur: Abandoning labourer’s body — three, including prime accused, arrested

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.