Belgium beat South Korea 1-0, win Group H
SAO PAULO (AP) — Reduced to 10 men for over half the match, Belgium still beat South Korea 1-0 on Thursday to finish atop of Group H and eliminate the last Asian team from the World Cup.
With a late goal yet again, Belgium made the difference in the 78th minute when defender Jan Vertonghen followed up a shot from teenage striker Divock Origi and tapped in the rebound past goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu.
“We knew all games were going to be tough,” said Belgium coach Marc Wilmots. “But even with 10 men, we still pushed forward. These guys are really hungry.”
After three narrow victories and precious little beautiful play, Belgium will now play the United States in Salvador on Tuesday.
“Mission accomplished,” said Wimots.
And along with Iran, Japan and Australia, South Korea departed as the last team from the Asian federation, all in the first round.
Algeria finished second in the group after a 1-1 draw with Russia — a result that meant South Korea needed a four-goal win to advance.
They never came close.
“All of our players did their utmost. They gave it their all but I think that it was my shortcoming, my failing as a coach that caused this result,” said coach Hong Myung-Bo.
The former captain of the 2002 team which reached the semifinals did not offer his resignation, though.
South Korea did not go without a strong fight, landing the ball on Belgium’s crossbar on the hour-mark and testing standout goalie Thibaut Courtois with several shots afterward. Yet even with a man up, the Koreans could never pressure Belgium enough to find an opening and paid the price.
For scorer Vertonghen it was a bit of redemption after he caused the penalty against Algeria in the opener which forced Belgium into late histrionics to come back and claw out a 2-1 victory.
“I really felt bad after that but now only joy is left,” he said.
Group H Results
Belgium 2, Algeria 1
Russia 1, South Korea 1
Belgium 1, Russia 0
Algeria 4, South Korea 2
Belgium 1, South Korea 0
Algeria 1, Russia 1
Final Group H Standings
Wins
Losses
Draws
Goals For
Goals Against
Points
Belgium
3
0
0
4
1
9
Algeria
1
1
1
6
5
4
Russia
0
1
2
2
3
2
South Korea
0
2
1
3
6
1