South Korea beat Portugal 2-1 with a dramatic last-minute goal from HWANG HEE-CHAN to advance South Korea to the World Cup knockout stages.
South Korea seemed to head home from Qatar before Child Heung-min broke free following a Portugal corner and played an ideal pass for Hwang to opening home in the 91st moment for a 2-1 triumph.
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South Korea joined the Portuguese, who had already secured their place in the last 16 by winning their first two matches, in the next round after Uruguay’s 2-0 victory over Ghana. The Portuguese had scored more goals than the South Americans.
South Korea, whose supervisor Paulo Bento watched from the stands following his explosion at English official Anthony Taylor in their loss by Ghana, realized just a success would do.
However, when Portugal took the lead with just four minutes and 52 seconds remaining, Bento’s men were left with a mountain to climb.
Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot expertly controlled Pepe’s long ball over the top, placing it on a plate for Ricardo Horta to shoot in from close range.
Portugal was trying to become the first team to win all three games in their group at this tournament, but after their first goal, they took their foot off the gas.
After 17 minutes, South Korea had the ball in Portugal’s net, but Kim Jin-su’s rebounded effort was disallowed for offside, and they were level 10 minutes later.
Against a corner from South Korea, Cristiano Ronaldo turned around.Kim Young-gwon headed home the goal after the ball struck the Portugal captain on the shoulder.
The impressive Dalot put goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu to the test from long range in response, and Son’s effort at the other end went right through Diogo Costa’s throat.
Kim was called back into action just before the halftime break when he turned away Vitinha’s sputtering effort.Ronaldo failed to convert the subsequent header, despite being one goal away from matching Eusebio’s nine World Cup goals for Portugal.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos is keeping an eye on the round of 16 and that would be Ronaldo’s final major contribution of the night after he was withdrawn at the hour mark.
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