Portugal and South Korea make it through World Cup Group H in dramatic fashion
Portugal have toped Group H of the World Cup in Qatar, with South Korea finishing second and joining them in the knockout stages after a dramatic finale to their group stage.
Having won their first two matches, Portugal were already safely into the last 16 and a 2-1 defeat to South Korea didn’t cost them.
Braga’s Ricardo Horta opened the scoring for the Portuguese, before Kim Young-Gwon equalised and a 91st minute winner from Hwang Hee-Chan proved the difference, sending South Korea through on goals scored ahead of Uruguay.
The Uruguayans thought they were doing enough to make the last 16, as they were beating Ghana 2-0 and South Korea were being held by Portugal in the dying moments, until Hwang changed everything.
The South American side only had one point before Friday, drawing with South Korea and losing to Portugal, and despite finding their form against Ghana, it wasn’t enough.
South Korea and Uruguay finish on the same points and goal difference, but it was goals scored that sends the Asian side through.
Ghana will be frustrated with how their campaign ended, having beaten South Korea a draw with Uruguay would have been enough to see them through, but they fell to defeat.
Topping Group H rather than finishing runners-up was key in order to avoid the winners of Group G in the next round, which will most likely be Brazil, although that is yet to be confirmed.
Brazil go into their final group game against Cameroon just needing a point to guarantee top spot, while they could still finish top even if they are beaten.
Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon are all fighting to qualify for the last 16, with the Swiss in pole position with three points from two games, while Serbia and Cameroon have once each.
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