Korea defy odds to beat Portugual 2-1 and reach round of 16

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Published: 03 Dec. 2022, 07:30

Korea defy odds to beat Portugual 2-1 and reach round of 16

Hwang Hee-chan celebrates at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group H match between Korea and Portugal at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on Friday. Hwang's goal eventually became the winning goal as Korea won the match 2-1 and qualified for the round of 16. [AFP/YONHAP]

The Taeguk Warriors advanced to the round of 16 at the 2022 Qatar World Cup in spectacular fashion on Friday night, beating group favorites Portugal 2-1 with a 90th-minute goal to edge out Uruguay and take second place and a spot in the knockout stage.

Kim Young-gwon and Hwang Hee-chan were the heroes Korea needed at Education City Stadium in Doha, slotting in a goal each for the win. Kim played an especially important role in defense as well, successfully holding off the Portuguese attacking line despite the absence of center back Kim Min-jae.

Korea arrived at the final game in very familiar territory — needing to not only topple a far higher ranked team, but also needing the other game to go their way as well in order to advance.

This was the exact same formula that the Taeguk Warriors faced in Russia 2018, when they had to bear Germany and Mexico had to beat Sweden in the final game for Korea to advance. Korea did beat Germany 2-0, but Sweden thrashed Mexico and the Taeguk Warriors went home empty-handed.

This time everything went Korea’s way. The Taeguk Warriors not only edged out Portugal 2-1, but Uruguay also beat Ghana 2-0, tying with Korea on four points but falling to third on goals scored.

Hwang Hee-chan celebrates with his teammates after after beating Portugal 2-1 and qualifying for the knockout stages on Friday evening at Education City Stadium in Doha. Hwang Hee-chan scored the winning goal in the 91st minute. [EPA/YONHAP]

Korean coach Paulo Bento, relegated to the stands after receiving a red card at the end of the Ghana game on Monday, didn’t pull any punches against Portugal, forwarding a far more aggressive attack with a much higher line and both Lee Kang-in and Cho Gue-sung.

The first half was fairly evenly matched and Korea were unlucky to concede in the fifth minute. The Taeguk Warriors weren’t on the back foot for long, rallying quickly to get back into the game.

Kim Young-gwon provided the equalizer in the 27th minute, picking up a Lee Kang-in corner that bounced off Cristiano Ronaldo’s back and slotting it into the back of the net.

Korea dropped deeper at the start of the second half but continued to push for fast attacks down the wings and Bento’s beloved set pieces. Captain Son Heung-min, who has looked sluggish at points over the last two games, provided some rapid counterattacks that created good opportunities, although none that the team was able to capitalize on.

Son Heung-min celebrates with his teammates and coaching staff celebrate after beating Portugal 2-1 and qualifying for the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup on Friday evening at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

The pace of the game markedly changed in the 65th minute when Ronaldo, Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes were all substituted off as Portugal looked to rest some important starters ahead of the knockout stage. Hwang also came on at the same time, making his first appearance of the tournament.

Korea turned the heat up again for the final 20 minutes of the game, putting constant pressure on Diogo Costa while at the other end of the pitch the defense repeatedly worked the offside trap to hold off any Portuguese attacks.

Yet despite the obvious momentum in Korea’s favor, it looked for most of the second half like it might just be too little, too late, with the Taeguk Warriors unable to capitalize on multiple corners and free kicks.

Korea started to slip in the final 10 minutes of the game, with Portugal seizing on a couple of opportunities to go on the offensive.

But Korea’s chance finally came in the 90th minute. Son broke away from a Portugal corner, running the length of the pitch to play the ball through Diogo Dalot’s legs to Hwang, who fired it into the bottom left corner from around the penalty spot to give Korea a 2-1 lead.

The Taeguk Warriors celebrate after beating Portugal 2-1 and qualifying for the knockout stages on Friday evening at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha. [AFP/YONHAP]

Son Heung-min reacts at the end of the match after beating Portugal 2-1 and qualifying for the knockout stages on Friday evening at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha. [AFP/YONHAP]

Hwang’s goal was good enough to move Korea up to second place and the crowd knew it. The final seven minutes of the game were largely irrelevant for the partying Red Devils, and when the whistle finally blew Son was in tears and Hwang was on his knees.

Against all the odds and facing one of the harder draws in the World Cup, Korea had earned their ticket to the round of 16.

What Korea face next is one of the biggest challenges any World Cup has to offer — Brazil in the knockout stage.

The Taeguk Warriors will take on Brazil in the round of 16 on Monday. The two sides have very recent history, having faced off in a friendly over the summer when Hwang Ui-jo scored the sole Korean goal in a 5-1 loss.

This time around Korea have some tricks up their sleeve. The sudden arrival of Lee Kang-in and Cho Gue-sung in the starting XI suggest Bento is finally starting to recognize the strength Korea has in its younger stars.

The return of Hwang Hee-chan — who may be struggling in the Premier League but has always proved very dangerous for Korea — is a very exciting sign, as is the slight indication that Son may be being given more room to focus on creating goalscoring opportunities, rather than playing every role across the entire midfield.

Brazil will be a very difficult nut for Korea to crack, and something very special will have to happen for the Taeguk Warriors to reach the quarterfinals in the face of such formidable opposition. If they are able to do it, however, there may be very little limit to just how far they can go.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]

korea joongAng daily

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Korea defy odds to beat Portugual 2-1 and reach round of 16

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