| The World Cup group H soccer match between Korea and Portugal, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Dec. 2. Korea beat Portugal 2-1. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-Suk |
By John Duerden
AI RAYYAN, Qatar ― In a World Cup of shocks and drama, South Korea looked like leaving without making much of an impression. But that all changed in one of the most exciting and beautiful moments in the country's long soccer history.
It was 1-1 against Portugal as injury time started. The Taeguk Warriors needed to win to have a chance of going through. With Uruguay 2-0 ahead of Ghana in the other game, a Korean goal would be enough but by the narrowest of margins.
Few thought it would come. Portugal was keeping the ball well and the men in red looked tired and out of ideas. Yet suddenly, Son Heung-min picked up the ball just outside of his own penalty area and started running. He was followed by more and more Portuguese players and as he approached the European area, the Spurs star was surrounded by six white shirts.
Then despite being exhausted, he saw the run of Hwang Hee-chan and somehow found his fellow English Premier League star with a smart pass and Hwang's first-time shot went low into the net. The Education City Stadium went wild.
| The World Cup group H soccer match between South Korea and Portugal, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Dec. 2. South Korea beat Portugal 2-1. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-Suk |
But it was not enough. While Korea held on for a famous win, there were still eight minutes to play in the other Group H game. The news filtered through and Uruguay suddenly knew it had to score if it was going to progress to the second round. The South Americans came close and probably should have had a penalty in the dying moments.
The Korean players were still on the field, watching on their phones Ghana frustrate Uruguay. And then when the final whistle sounded, the celebrations and the tears started in earnest.
| The World Cup group H soccer match between South Korea and Portugal, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Dec. 2. South Korea beat Portugal 2-1. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-Suk |
For just the third time, Korea is in the second round of the World Cup, finishing second behind Portugal with four points. It started with a solid 0-0 draw with Uruguay, a tricky team and battle-hardened World Cup power. While the South Americans hit the post twice, the result was generally seen as a fair one. It was an interesting rather than exciting game for the neutral. Korea didn't create much ― apart from a glaring miss from Hwang Ui-jo ― but defended well against some talented attackers.
That was not the case against Ghana on Monday as there was a painful 3-2 defeat. Two crosses into the area in the first half put the Africans ahead after a positive Korean start. Two headers from Cho Gue-song in three second-half minutes turned the game on its head and at that point, the Taeguk Warriors looked the likelier to win. Yet again however, a simple ball into the area was not dealt with and the Black Stars ended victorious. It meant that Korea did not control its own destiny.
In the end, it didn't matter. On Monday, there is a huge game against Brazil. The match kicks off at 10 p.m. Monday at Stadium 974 in Doha, or 4 a.m. Tuesday in Korea. But first, a little time is needed to let events of Friday sink in. Another page has been written in Korea's soccer history and it will make for glorious reading for a long time to come and has added to an already fantastic and exciting World Cup.