Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

South Korea qualify for World Cup last-16 with injury time winner against Portugal

talksport.com, 2 December 2022, 17:14
South Korea qualified for the World Cup last-16 in dramatic finish with an injury time winner against Portugal after coming from behind.

In incredible scenes, Korea came into their Group H finale sitting bottom of the pile behind Portugal, Ghana and Uruguay.

Advertisement

But they defied the odds to finish second behind Portugal to seal their place in the knockout stages.

Without a goal in nine months, Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan came off the bench to fire home in the 91st minute.

Advertisement

Korea skipper Heung-min Son has had a poor tournament, but he delivered the crucial assist after being selfish for the majority of the match.

And Hwang made no mistake when slipped in as he swept the ball home in the far corner to spark wild scenes from the players and fans.

Players waited nervously on the pitch following the victory as they were ahead of Uruguay on goal difference.

They were even watching the match on their phones to keep up to date with all the action.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Uruguay were leading 2-1 and knew just one more goal would send them through to the last-16 at the expense of Korea.

But the South American nation failed to get the crucial goal, despite Edinson Cavani spurning a key chance.

Advertisement

And that sparked wild celebrations on the pitch at the Education City Stadium as Son burst into tears as his teammates reacted in jubilant fashion.

Korea will now face the winners from Group G, which consists of Brazil, Switzerland, Serbia and Cameroon.

Advertisement

Things got off to the worst possible start for Korea when Ricardo Horta put Portugal ahead in the fifth minute.

The right winger smashed the ball home from close range after being picked out by Diogo Dalot.

But Portugal never looked threatening again, with Korea grabbing a deserved equaliser just before the half hour half mark through Kim Young-gwon.

The defender reacted quickest inside the box following a corner as the ball somehow fell to his feet after it cannoned off a Portuguese player's head.

Advertisement

No team looked likely to score in the second half, until led a counter-attack, where he slipped in Hwang in the latter stages, with the forward making no mistake from inside the box.

Speaking on talkSPORT commentary, talkSPORT's Dean Ashton said: "It's ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous!

"I've been so critical of Son for being selfish, but he's delivered such a cool pass, and it's Hwang Hee-chan with a great finish."

Top News

18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly received a major boost in their pursuit of signing Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries after the Serie A side set a 'reasonable asking price' for their star defender. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The 2023-24 Premier League campaign has been one of the most exciting and memorable yet and that has largely been thanks to the sheer amount of goal-laden matches witnessed across the country. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams in disappointing form will lock horns in the Belgian Pro League on Monday evening, with Genk welcoming Royal Antwerp to Cegeka Arena. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City's Phil Foden has been named the 2023-24 Premier League Player of the Season. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hellas Verona travel to rock-bottom Salernitana on Monday evening, hoping to secure their Serie A status for another season. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United are preparing to make a £15m bid for Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in the upcoming transfer window, according to a report. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Just three days on from the inevitable firing of Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus test their mettle against the man tipped to step into the Italian's shoes, facing Thiago Motta's Champions League-bound Bologna. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk It all comes down to the final matchday in the 2023-24 Premier League season, with the title - and nominally one relegation place - still up for grabs. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nashville vs. Atlanta (Saturday, 6.45pm) Nashville SC and Atlanta United square off in MLS on Saturday with both teams looking to make moves up the Eastern Conference standings. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Besiktas vs. Hatayspor (Saturday, 5.00pm) Two sides with contrasting ambitions clash when Besiktas host Hatayspor at the Tupras Stadyumu on Saturday in the Turkish Super Lig. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lecce vs. Atalanta (Saturday, 5.00pm) After suffering cup final heartbreak in midweek, Atalanta BC's frantic season finale continues on Saturday evening, when they visit Lecce at Stadio Via del Mare. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Frankfurt vs. RB Leipzig (Saturday, 2.30pm) Seeking to guarantee a top-six finish in the Bundesliga, Eintracht Frankfurt welcome RB Leipzig to Deutsche Bank Park for their final league fixture of the 2023-24 season on Saturday afternoon. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic vs. St Mirren (Saturday, 12.30pm) Newly-crowned Scottish Premiership champions Celtic will look to end their league campaign on a high when they welcome St Mirren to Parkhead on Saturday afternoon. 18 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord will look to end the 2023-24 Eredivisie season on a winning note when they host a struggling SBV Excelsior at De Kuip on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cadiz will attempt to send their survival fight to the final day of the season when they play host to Las Palmas in Sunday's La Liga contest. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has dismissed speculation that he has already agreed a deal to join Newcastle United this summer. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sparta Rotterdam will play their final match at Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel for the 2023-24 Eredivisie season this Sunday afternoon when they play host to a stuttering Heerenveen. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final match at MAC³PARK Stadion in the 2023-24 Eredivisie season will see PEC Zwolle playing host to Europa League hopefuls FC Twente on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wellington vs. Victory (Saturday, 7.30am) Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Victory square off in the second leg of the A-League Finals Series semi-finals on Saturday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have reportedly dropped their pursuits of Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies and Lille's Leny Yoro. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Almere City and NEC draw the curtain on their respective 2023-24 Eredivisie seasons with a meeting at the Yanmar Stadion on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted he would like to manage in Spain at some point in his career. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk AZ Alkmaar will be looking to pick up a fifth straight victory when they entertain the challenge of FC Utrecht at the AFAS Stadion on Sunday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With the chance to guarantee their La Liga survival ahead of the final day of the season, Celta Vigo will travel to Los Carmenes to meet already-relegated Granada on Sunday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Concluding a triumphant Ligue 1 campaign, Paris Saint-Germain head to the Stade Saint-Symphorien on Sunday to face a Metz side destined to scrap for survival in the relegation playoffs. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly received a major boost in their pursuit of summer target Teun Koopmeiners after Atalanta BC announced their asking price for his signature. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Le Havre are set to take on Marseille at Stade Oceane on Sunday evening in the final matchday of the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford midfielder Josh Dasilva has signed a new contract to keep him at the club until at least 2025. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A highly-rated Arsenal academy prospect has confirmed that he will be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.