Uruguay sat out the World Cup on Friday despite beating Ghana 2-0 after South Korea scored a game-winning goal in the final Group H game to overcome the South American team.
Giorgian De Arrascaeta scored twice in quick succession in the first half, with 35-year-old Luis Suárez having a hand in both goals.
However, Suárez ended the game on the bench in tears when the news of South Korea’s last-gasp win over Portugal came through, meaning the Asian team had passed the Uruguayans to second place in Group H on goals. marked.
Veteran striker Suárez had been at the center of the pre-match build-up due to his infamous handball in the 2010 quarter-final, which helped eliminate Ghana.
His name was loudly booed by the Ghanaian supporters as it was read out by the stadium announcers and he received the same treatment every time he touched the ball.
He also led the protests when Ghana were awarded a penalty in the 19th minute.
Mohammed Kudus had initially been ruled offside when he was brought down by Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet, but after that decision was overturned, referee Daniel Siebert awarded the penalty after reviewing the pitch monitor.
But Andre Ayew’s tame effort was easily saved by Rochet and with the Ghanaian crowd silent in disbelief, Uruguay made them pay.
Darwin Núñez was prevented from doing so by Mohammed Salisu’s brilliant clearance, but on 26 minutes De Arrascaeta headed in from point blank range after a brilliant performance by Suárez.
Picking up a poor cross from the right that eluded two Ghanaian defenders, Suárez sliced through Alidu Seidu on the inside and fired a powerful low shot past Lawrence Ati Zigi’s hands. He was approaching the goal when he brought down De Arrascaeta.
Six minutes later, Uruguay gave Ghana a mountain to climb as Arrascaeta hit a sublime volley at the end of some excellent team play, Suárez providing an assist for the first time as Núñez went down.
Siebert let Ghana slip away just before the hour mark when he ruled that Daniel Amartey had touched the ball while bringing down Núñez in the box.
That decision would be crucial since another goal would have put Uruguay.
Suárez was booed and cheered in equal measure by the crowd when he was substituted for Edinson Cavani in the 66th minute.
Ghana struggled to create anything in response. The closest they came to recovering a goal was with nine minutes remaining, when Rochet brilliantly deflected a powerful low shot from Kudus.
Uruguay then realized they needed another goal and charged forward, but could not find the breakthrough.
The match ended with shoving and shoving, with Suárez distraught over the fate of his team.
South Korea scores the winning goal in stoppage time
Substitute Hwang Hee-chan scored the winner in stoppage time to rescue South Korea from the brink of World Cup elimination in a thrilling victory over Portugal, who were already qualified.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers striker netted the winner in the 91st minute at the Education City Stadium in Qatar to bring delirium and tears to the Korean fans.
Talisman Son Heung-min, who assisted the winner, collapsed to the ground and lay on his back on the grass as the final whistle blew. He had tears in his eyes.
The Korean players then crowded onto the pitch to watch the Ghana-Uruguay game on a mobile phone as they waited for their place in the round of 16 to be confirmed.
A much-changed Portugal had taken a lead on five minutes through Ricardo Horta, but the Koreans, who had to win to have any chance of staying alive, struck back on 27 minutes through Kim Young-gwon.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo played a role in Korea’s equalizing goal, turning his back on a corner and the ball hitting him to set up Kim.
South Korea and their captain Son, wearing a mask after recent surgery, needed to score again but failed to really upset Portugal until Son set up Hwang in stoppage time after a fine run.
Even before a ball was kicked, there was a roar in Education City Stadium every time Ronaldo’s face appeared on the big screen, even during the national anthems. There were also boos and chants of “Messi, Messi”.
South Korea coach Paulo Bento, a former Portugal international, had to watch from the stands after being sent off after the final whistle of the Koreans’ 3-2 loss to Ghana.
He saw his men fall behind after five minutes when defender Pepe flicked the ball down the right to Manchester United winger Diogo Dalot.
Dalot easily evaded a weak challenge from Korea and carried the ball off the baseline for winger Horta to shoot unmarked into the back of the net in front of a crowd of 44,000.
With the classification already assured, Portugal made six changes with respect to the team that beat Uruguay 2-0, Dalot and Horta among those purchased.
But they still looked dangerous every time they advanced in the first half against a Korean defense that was missing Napoli’s Kim Min-jae.
South Korea captain Son, the Spurs striker, was yet to get going at this World Cup after undergoing surgery for a fracture around his left eye in early November.
Wearing a black mask to protect the wound, the 30-year-old showed glimpses of his brilliant prime as South Korea chased a much-needed victory.
South Korea threatened to take the lead and at minute 27 they were level.
Ronaldo, 37, surely playing in his last World Cup, unknowingly played a central role in South Korea’s goal.
Currently without a club after his acrimonious departure from Manchester United, the striker turned his back on a Korean corner kick and the ball hit him in the shoulder and fell straight to defender Kim to convert.
The second half was more of the same: Portugal enjoyed more possession and caressed the ball, but South Korea and an increasingly influential Son were a threat at half-time.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos brought on Ronaldo in the 65th minute to save his legs, then attacker Hwang came on and proved to be the hero of death.
