AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — South Korea’s gamers fashioned a circle within the heart of the sphere and skilled their eyes on a number of cell telephones exhibiting a close-by match that may determine their future on the World Cup.The South Koreans had nearly carried out their job, beating Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal teammates 2-1 on a stoppage-time purpose.Now got here an agonizing wait. To advance to the spherical of 16, they only wanted Uruguay to not rating a purpose towards Ghana within the different group match that also had at the very least six minutes to play.1000’s of red-and-white-clad South Korea followers had whipped out their telephones, too. Some prayed. Others had been crying, similar to captain Son Heung-min within the gamers’ huddle.They might quickly actually occasion.South Korea superior on the tiebreaker of objectives scored, pushing Uruguay into third place Friday in one of many wildest finishes to a bunch within the event’s 92-year historical past.“It actually appears like a miracle,” South Korea striker Cho Gue-sung stated.South Korea and Uruguay completed with 4 factors and each had a purpose distinction of zero, however the Asian staff scored 4 objectives in comparison with Uruguay’s two. The reward is a match towards Brazil within the final 16.“We by no means gave up,” Son stated by means of tears. “Our gamers had been attempting to run an additional step extra, sacrificing themselves, and that allowed us to attain a superb end result.“When the Uruguay-Ghana recreation completed 2-0 and South Korea was certain of its second-place end, the gamers on the sphere erupted in pleasure, hugging one another and squirting water within the air.Then they acquired in a line and sprinted towards their followers behind one of many objectives at Schooling Metropolis Stadium earlier than performing a dive in entrance of them.South Korea was tied at 1-1 and heading out of the event when a Portugal nook acquired cleared and Son led a length-of-the-field breakaway within the first minute of added time. He acquired crowded out by Portugal’s retreating defenders however had the presence of thoughts to slide a go by means of an opponent’s legs and into the trail of Hwang Hee-chan, who positioned a low end previous goalkeeper Diogo Costa.Hwang, who got here on as an alternative choice to his first match at this yr’s World Cup, eliminated his jersey and flexed his muscle tissue. A few of his teammates fell to the bottom. However there have been nonetheless 5 minutes extra of stoppage time to play.When the ultimate whistle blew, Son — who was sobbing with pleasure — and different teammates dropped dramatically to the turf, banging their fists. South Korea coach Paulo Bento, who’s Portuguese, waited patiently within the tunnel whereas the Uruguay-Ghana match performed to a end. He couldn’t be together with his gamers as a result of he was serving a suspension for a purple card in South Korea’s final recreation.Hwang didn’t play in South Korea’s first two video games due to a left hamstring damage however entered as a 66th-minute substitute towards Portugal. He stated the teaching employees advised him: “You’re going to create one thing.”Portugal had already superior after two video games and received the group, assuring Ronaldo of at the very least yet another match in Qatar as he seeks his first World Cup title in seemingly his ultimate try. The staff will play Switzerland subsequent.Ricardo Horta, beginning up entrance alongside Ronaldo, had given Portugal the lead within the fifth minute when he transformed a first-time shot off a cross from proper again Diogo Dalot.South Korea equalized with a serving to hand from Ronaldo after an outswinging nook struck his again as he turned away from the ball. Kim Younger-gwon swept the free ball into the web within the twenty seventh minute to begin a comeback that had probably the most dramatic of endings.“What we achieved right here is particular,” Son stated, “and I’m so pleased with our gamers.“Making the final 16 was our purpose. We did our greatest each recreation, however you simply can’t predict what occurs in soccer.”LATE GOALSSouth Korea’s gamers are getting used to offering late drama. 4 of the staff’s final seven objectives on the World Cup have been scored within the ninetieth minute or later.RONALDORonaldo began for the third straight group recreation however was substituted after an ineffective 65 minutes. If he begins as anticipated within the final 16, he’ll have performed 4 video games in 13 days on the World Cup — having solely been used for Manchester United earlier than the event.THIRD TIMESouth Korea has superior from the group stage for the third time. The staff reached the semifinals on house soil in 2002 and misplaced within the final 16 in 2010.___Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80___
South Korea advances at World Cup after wild end to group
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