FIFA World Cup : Portugal vs South Korea

 Portugal, already assured of a place in the knock outs, played South Korea in their last group stage game, who needed nothing less than a win to qualify. Portugal, were off the block quickly, taking the lead in just 5 minutes, after Horta found the back of the net on his World Cup debut game. Dalot ran through the flanks before cutting the ball into the box & Horta shot past the keeper into the net. With no option, but to attack, South Korea got the ball into the Portugal net in the 17th minute, but Kim Jin-su was offside. They continued to press hard & were rewarded in the 27th minute, when KimYoung volleyed in from a corner, as the ball deflected onto his path, as the score got level at 1-1. Half time stayed with scores level. 

In the 2nd half, Portugal kept more possession & also pressed hard for a goal, but it was South Korea who had more purpose in their game. Around the final moments of the game, as all seemed lost for the Koreans, their mercurial forward, Son carried the ball the entire length of the field & surrounded by a sea of Portugal shirts, fed the ball to Hwang Hee-chan who cooly slotted the ball under the onrushing Diogo Costa - suddenly South Korea were back in the reckoning, as now they  were at par with Uruguay on points & goal difference, but nosed ahead, as they had scored ore goals. Fascinating results, at knife edge indeed, along with a upset win over prodigal Portugal. 

South Korea ending at 2nd spot in the group now will meet Brazil most probably in the round of 16, & they can take belief from this victory into the match. Portugal top the group & await their opponent in the knock outs, which will be Group G runners up.