South Korea and Uruguay ended with four points each
\n DOHA
\nSubstitute Hwang Hee-chan scored the winner in injury time to rescue South Korea from the brink of FIFA World Cup 2022 elimination in a thrilling 2-1 victory over already-qualified Portugal on Friday.
\nThe Wolverhampton Wanderers\u2019 forward slipped in the winner in the 91st minute at Education City Stadium in Qatar to spark delirium and tears among the Korean fans.
\nTalisman Son Heung-min, who set up the winner, collapsed to the floor and lay on his back on the turf at the final whistle. He had tears in his eyes.
\nThe 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.
\nA 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.
\nPortugal 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.
\nSouth Korea and their skipper Son, in a mask after recent surgery, needed to score again but they failed to really trouble Portugal until Son set up Hwang in injury time after a fine run.
\nBefore a ball was even kicked a roar went up at Education City Stadium every time Ronaldo\u00b4s face popped up on the big screen, even during the national anthems. There were some jeers too and chants of \u201cMessi, Messi\u201d.
\nSouth 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\u00b4 3-2 defeat to Ghana.
\nHe 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.
\nDalot easily evaded a weak Korean challenge and pulled the ball back from the byline for winger Horta to fire unmarked into the back of the net in front of a 44,000 crowd.
\nWith qualification already secure, Portugal made six changes from the team that beat Uruguay 2-0, Dalot and Horta among those bought in.
\nBut they still looked dangerous every time they went forward in the first half against a Korean defence missing Napoli\u00b4s Kim Min-jae.
\nSouth 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.
\nWearing a black mask to protect the wound, the 30-year-old showed glimpses of his brilliant best as South Korea chased the win they so badly needed.
\nSouth Korea were threatening to get on top and in the 27th minute they were level.
\nThe 37-year-old Ronaldo, surely playing at his last World Cup, unwittingly played a central role in the South Korean goal.
\nCurrently without a club after his bitter departure from Manchester United, the forward turned his back on a Korean corner and the ball hit his shoulder and fell straight to defender Kim to turn in.
\nThe second half was more of the same \u2014 Portugal enjoying more possession and stroking the ball around but South Korea and an increasingly influential Son a threat on the break.
\nPortugal 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
South Korea and Uruguay ended with four points each DOHA Substitute Hwang Hee-chan scored the winner in injury time to rescue South Korea from the brink of FIFA World Cup 2022 elimination in a thrilling 2-1 victory over already-qualified Portugal on Friday. The Wolverhampton Wanderers\u2019 forward slipped in the winner in the 91st minute at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-298938","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n