South Korea beat Portugal in a nail-biting Group H finale on Friday at the World Cup in Ar-Rayyan, Qatar, thanks to a goal from Hee-Chan Hwang in injury time. With the same Group H record as Uruguay (1-1-1), South Korea advanced due to a higher goal differential (4-2).
South Korea beat Portugal 2-1 to reach World Cup last 16
Portugal scored first on a goal from Ricardo Horta in the fifth minute and ultimately won the group despite losing to South Korea. At the 27-minute mark, Young-Gwon Kim tied the game at one. In a close encounter, each team managed 13 shots, with six finding the back of the net.
South Korea will likely face Group G winner Brazil after advancing from group play for the first time since 2010 and only the third time in its history. For the first time since 1996, when it advanced to the semifinals, Portugal has won its group. In the round of 16, it will likely meet the victor of the Group G match between Serbia and Switzerland. With a score of 2-0 for Uruguay and 0-0 for Ghana.
Uruguay needed to add to its two-goal lead in the game’s final minutes against Ghana in Al Wakrah, Qatar, where the two teams were competing for second place in Group H behind South Korea.
Two goals from Giorgian de Arrascaeta in the 26th and 32nd minutes were not enough for Uruguay to advance out of their group for the first time in four World Cup appearances. Twelve shots were taken by Uruguay, with seven on goal, while ten were taken by Ghana (four on target). The last time Ghana made it to the final eight was in 2010.
