S Korea stun Portugal, Ghana crash out

SOUTH Korea scored a dramatic late goal to beat Portugal 2-1 yesterday and qualify for the World Cup last 16 at Uruguay’s expense. The Uruguayans scored a 2-0 victory over Ghana but both countries crashed out of the tournament.

South Korean substitute Hwang Heechan scored the winner in injury time to rescue them from the brink of World Cup elimination in a thrilling victory over already-qualified Portugal yesterday.

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.

The Korean players then stood in a huddle on the pitch watching the Ghana v Uruguay match on a mobile phone as they awaited their place in the last 16 to be confirmed.

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.

South Korea and their skipper Son needed to score again but they failed to really trouble Portugal until Son set up Hwang in injury time after a fine run.

South Korea coach Paulo Bento, the former Portuguese international, had to watch from the stands after he was sent off following the final whistle of the Koreans’ 3-2 defeat to Ghana.

He saw his men fall behind after just five minutes when defender Pepe played the ball down the right to Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot.

Dalot pulled the ball back from the byline for winger Horta to fire in unmarked in front of a 44,000 crowd.

With qualification secure, Portugal made six changes from the team that beat Uruguay 2-0, Dalot and Horta among those bought in.

But they still looked dangerous every time they went forward in the first half against a Korean defence missing Napoli’s Kim Min-jae.

South Korean skipper Son, the Spurs forward, was yet to get going at this

World Cup after surgery for a fracture around his left eye at the start of November.

Wearing a black mask to protect the wound, the 30-year-old showed glimpses of his best as South Korea chased the win, and in the 27th minute they were level.

The 37-year-old Ronaldo unwittingly played a central role in the South Korean goal.

Without a club after his departure from Manchester United, the forward turned his back on a Korean corner and the ball hit his shoulder and fell to defender Kim to turn in.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos brought Ronaldo off on 65 minutes to save his legs, then attacker Hwang came on and proved to be the hero at the death.

Meanwhile, Giorgian de Arrascaeta scored twice in six minutes to give Uruguay a 2-0 win over Ghana. It was the first time in two decades that la Celeste have failed to reach the knockout stage.

Unable to score in their first two matches, Uruguay needed a win to advance from Group H and for already-qualified Portugal to avoid defeat by South Korea. But the Asian side’s shock 2-1 win ensured they went through by virtue of having scored two more goals.