South Korea earned a spot in the FIFA World Cup knockout round with a stoppage-time winner over Portugal. Son Heung-min picked up a deflected Portugal corner and carried about 80 yards to the edge of the box. He then slipped a pass to Hwang Hee-chan, who fired it home and made South Korea supporters go crazy.
This run & pass by Son and finish by Hwang Hee-chan was PERFECTION 😍 pic.twitter.com/o1Ymo50xCo
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 2, 2022
ALL OF SOUTH KOREA RIGHT NOW 🇰🇷 pic.twitter.com/2ZkZ08a2PF
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 2, 2022
South Korea helped the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) make history by becoming the third Asian team in the round of 16 for the first time. The Tigers of Asia joined Japan and Australia who advanced earlier this week.
Tottenham’s Son couldn’t hold back tears after Uruguay–Ghana went final and his team was officially through.
🇰🇷 Cheers, @sonny7's crying now. #FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/71ZYeLqlZF
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) December 2, 2022
Look at what it means to this #KOR team!!#FIFAWorldCup #TSWorldCup pic.twitter.com/XILtoNP65M
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) December 2, 2022
South American stalwarts Uruguay dominated the other Group H match vs. Ghana, winning 2-0, but it wasn’t enough, thanks to the goals scored tiebreaker. Both teams were even on points with four apiece, each with a goal differential of 0. It came down to goals for, and South Korea’s four topped Uruguay’s two.
Luis Suárez represented all of Uruguay with his reaction to the late South Korea goal.
The moment Luis Suárez saw that South Korea scored pic.twitter.com/2rBRldpcMB
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 2, 2022
The final Group H table…
✅ Portugal and South Korea are through to the last 16!
❌ Uruguay and Ghana are going home.
📺 Reaction on @BBCiPlayer. listen on @BBCSounds and get more on the @BBCSport app 📲#BBCFootball #BBCWorldCup pic.twitter.com/IOtnsvLzsw
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 2, 2022
Several Uruguayan players aggressively let officials know their thoughts about a controversial no-penalty call in stoppage time, along with one that wasn’t overturned with VAR.
Uruguay players follow the game officials into the tunnel after the final whistle pic.twitter.com/bVCIXKM2RW
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 2, 2022
Here’s the Édinson Cavani call La Celeste was so upset about.
Uruguay calls for a penalty on this challenge in a box, but none is given by the referee pic.twitter.com/RiYUqxhm2A
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 2, 2022
Though South Korea stole the headlines, Portugal won the group, doing enough with two wins in their first two matches despite the South Korea loss. With six points, it was Portugal’s best group stage haul since 2006, when they made a run to the semifinals in Ronaldo’s first World Cup.
South Korea’s manager Paulo Bento played for Portgual in the 2002 World Cup.
2002: 🇰🇷 beat 🇵🇹 in the final group stage game to qualify for the knockout stages
2022: 🇰🇷 have just beaten 🇵🇹 in the final group stage game to qualify for the knockout stage on GOALS SCORED
Paulo Bento played for Portugal in 2002 is managing South Korea 20 years later. 🤪 pic.twitter.com/Z7uOGlPXg5
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 2, 2022
Unfortunately for Ghana supporters, their high point in this tournament was an entertaining 3-2 win over South Korea on Monday.
