Portugal headed into the game having picked up maximum points from their opening two group games.
As a result, Seleção das Quinas needed just one point to ensure they would top the group.
South Korea, meanwhile, needed to beat Portugal by two or more goals and hope for a draw in the other Group H tie.
Portugal took the lead inside five minutes on Friday. Pepe played a long ball to Diogo Dalot who worked his way inside before squaring to goalscorer Ricardo Horta.
South Korea then thought they had equalised after Son’s cross was stabbed home by Jin-Su Kim after 16 minutes but it was ruled out for offside.
The underdogs did find a leveller a further 10 minutes later, though, upon Kim Young-gwon slotting home from close range on the back of a dangerous whipped corner from the left.
🇰🇷🤝
Kim Young-gwon fires home from close range as South Korea draw level against Portugal!
Game on 👊#FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/QlBhNIwKOM
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) December 2, 2022
Deep into injury time, with South Korea on their way out of the competition as Group H basement boys, Wolves hitman Hwang-hee Chan emerged from the bench to latch onto a piece of trademark brilliance from captain Son Heung-min.
From here, Hwang made no mistake with a pinpoint finish into the far corner, in the process sending his country through to the World Cup’s knockout rounds at the expense of Uruguay.
📰 Table Of Contents
South Korea player ratings
- GK: Seung-Gyu Kim – 7
- RB: Moon-Hwan Kim – 6.5
- CB: Kyung-Won Kwon – 6.5
- CB: Young-Gwon Kim – 7
- LB: Jin-Su Kim – 6
- CDM: Woo-Young Jung – 7
- CM: In-Beom Hwang – 6
- CM: Kang-In Lee – 5.5
- RW: Jae-Sung Lee – 6
- ST: Gue-Sung Cho – 6.5
- LW: Heung-min Son – 8
Substitutes: Hwang Hee-chan – 7, Jun-ho Son – 5.5, Ui-jo Hwang – N/A, Yu-min Cho – N/A
Portugal player ratings
- GK: Diogo Costa – 6
- RB: Diogo Dalot – 7
- CB: Pepe – 6.5
- CB: Antonio Silva – 5.5
- LB: Joao Cancelo – 7
- CDM: Ruben Neves – 6
- CM: Matheus Nunes – 5.5
- CM: Joao Mario – 6
- RW: Vitinha – 6.5
- ST: Cristiano Ronaldo – 4.5
- LW: Ricardo Horta – 7
Substitutes: Joao Palhinha – 5.5, Andre Silva – 5.5, Rafael Leao – 5, William Carvalho – N/A, Bernardo Silva – N/A
Key stats
Cristiano Ronaldo’s first half by numbers vs. South Korea:
10/13 passes completed
1 Big Chance missed
1 error leading to a goal
0/1 take-ons completed
0/2 shots on target
0 chances created#FIFAWorldCup— Squawka (@Squawka) December 2, 2022
Young-Gwon Kim’s first half by numbers vs. Portugal:
89% pass accuracy
3/4 long balls completed
2 clearances
1 block
1/1 ground duels won
1 goalEqualiser to give South Korea hope. 🇰🇷 pic.twitter.com/hFmLGoQ388
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 2, 2022
4 – Diogo Dalot has been directly involved in four goals across his last three appearances for Portugal in all competitions (2 goals, 2 assists), scoring or assisting in each match. Marauding. pic.twitter.com/QV3mcjuiAS
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 2, 2022
🥴 Cristiano Ronaldo has committed as many errors leading to an opposition goal as he has scored goals (1) at the 2022 #FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/L0gP5Rfe53
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) December 2, 2022
4/7 – Four of South Korea’s last seven goals at the World Cup have been scored in the 90th minute or later of the second half. Drama. pic.twitter.com/oo6Hlna3xP
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 2, 2022
South Korea (1.73) 2-1 (1.40) Portugal
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) December 2, 2022
South Korea have now qualified for the World Cup Round of 16 at 3 of the last 5 World Cups. They had never qualified for the Round of 16 before 2002.
Late drama. 🇰🇷 pic.twitter.com/vPZL7zuGpy
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 2, 2022
Assist 2022 World Cup
🇦🇷Messi: 1 (to Enzo 🇦🇷)
🇵🇹Ronaldo: 1 (to Kim 🇰🇷)🔥🔥
— Cav¹⁰ (@MessiCav10i) December 2, 2022
Nothing but respect between Cristiano Ronaldo and Son Heung-min ❤️ pic.twitter.com/AgFtF87NUH
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 2, 2022
— Out Of Context Football (@nocontextfooty) December 2, 2022
How could you not love this guy? He lets his emotions run, part of why Son Heung-Min is such a beautiful player #KOR pic.twitter.com/wOdKoB5ctb
— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) December 2, 2022
More football for Son
No more football for Partey
We’ll take it.— YankeeGunner (@YankeeGunner) December 2, 2022
Suarez just saw the Korea score and is breaking down. pic.twitter.com/MuRssDEwSm
— M•A•J (@Ultra_Suristic) December 2, 2022
Magical play from Son, iconic run, iconic assist.
After a disappointing start of the season this is what he needed.
He have write history for his country, when they needed him he deliver, that’s what he does.
— Jaco™ (@JacoCats) December 2, 2022
South Korea qualify for the knockout stage on goals-scored ahead of Uruguay. Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan was their hero. Heartbreak for Luis Suarez in his final World Cup. He was in tears on the bench. Agony for Uruguay in another dramatic finish. This World Cup is gripping.🍿 pic.twitter.com/0l9IzgWrrN
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) December 2, 2022
SOUTH KOREA SHUT URUGUAY OUT OF THE WORLD CUP 😱 pic.twitter.com/2sZiRJK4Xk
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 2, 2022
Dalot already put in a better cross than Cancelo did the whole tournament
— Viran🇲🇾 (@MadnessFc4) December 2, 2022
SON HEUNG-MIN COULDN’T BELIEVE IT! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/o1f9Odb73g
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 2, 2022
The World Cup in a message: pic.twitter.com/jXCKq5Zm2g
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 2, 2022
They were saying fairytale Messi v Ronaldo final. It’s going to be Japan v Morocco at this rate.
— Dubois (@CFCDUBois) December 2, 2022
Incredible:South Korean commentary of last second goal which delivered come back victory against Ronaldo’s Portugal and place in Knockout round. I don’t speak Korean but I guarantee this will lift your soul 🇰🇷https://t.co/0EmmBo2e0s
— roger bennett (@rogbennett) December 2, 2022
The positives. Diogo Dalot outstanding. Should be starting RB from now on. Cancelo on the left was better than in 2 previous games, but poor decision-making/final ball. António Silva very good. Portugal have three CBs who can be relied on. Vitinha a bright spark – very good game.
— Tom Kundert (@PortuGoal1) December 2, 2022
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