DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The sign said it all. Hwang Hee-chan got the message.
A young South Korean fan held up a banner reading “One more goal” during halftime of the team’s World Cup match against Portugal on Friday. The teams were tied 1-1 at the time, but the South Koreans needed another goal to earn a place in the round of 16.
Hwang delivered the dramatic goal in stoppage time, leading South Korea to a 2-1 victory and their third trip to the round of 16 of the World Cup.
“I’m glad I was able to give this gift to the fans,” said Hwang, taking off his jersey and striking the classic muscleman pose after scoring as thousands of South Korean fans erupted into a frenzy of shouting and cheering in the stadium. North end of Education City Stadium.
It is South Korea’s third trip beyond the group stage at the World Cup. The team reached the semi-finals as co-hosts in 2002, and then reached the round of 16 in 2010.
Hwang missed the first two group games in Qatar with a hamstring injury, coming on as a second-half substitute against Portugal.
“In the first game it was impossible for me to play and the pain got worse,” he said. “I ran a bit, but I thought I could play the second game, but they put up with me.”
He finally made an appearance on Friday. And it also turned out to be a match-winning and World Cup-advancing appearance.
“It was a bit risky,” Hwang said. “But I didn’t care what happened to me personally. I just wanted to contribute.”
South Korea were exiting the tournament in the final minutes when a Portugal corner was cleared and Son Heung-min ran down the right side of the pitch. He slipped a pass through an opponent’s legs and into the path of Hwang, who he converted with a low finisher.
“When Son received the ball, I was convinced that he would pass it to me,” said Hwang, who said his coaches and teammates gave him confidence as he was about to enter the game.
“They told me I was going to create something,” he said. “Many teammates told me they trusted me.”
Cho Gue-sung, who scored twice in South Korea’s 3-2 loss to Ghana in an earlier group game, summed up what thousands of fans in the stands, and millions at home, were thinking.
“It really feels like a miracle,” Cho said. “Our players really did their best. Our coaching staff did a great job preparing us and everything went well. Our dreams came true.”
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