Ghana won an exhilarating match filled with twists and turns against South Korea in front of a spirited crowd at the Education City Stadium in Qatar.
A 10-minute spell from the African nation in the first half gave them a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu and Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus.
However, the Ghanaian fans’ raucous celebrations at half-time were dampened by a return from South Korea after the break.
Two superb three-minute headers from Cho Gue-sung, his national league’s top scorer, leveled the game after 61 minutes.
But Kudus, who headed Jordan Ayew’s cross in the first half, added the finishing touch when he struck in the third for Ghana to break South Korea’s heart.
Chances continued to fall South Korea’s way as they searched for another equalizer but, despite 10 minutes of added time, Ghana held on.
There were emotional scenes at the final whistle as scores of South Korean players fell to the ground while manager Paulo Bento was sent off for arguing with England referee Anthony Taylor for not allowing to take a corner despite the elapsed 10 minutes.
In contrast, delighted Ghanaian substitutes sprinted onto the pitch in celebration as fans in the stand whistled and danced in celebration.
With Portugal coming next for South Korea, it looks like a significant loss, while Ghana – unhappy to lose to Portugal – will face Uruguay in high spirits in their final game.
Dramatic end to key game in Group H
It was a frenetic game from start to finish as both teams went through periods of pressure but never took control in a sustained fashion.
South Korea started fast, winning plenty of corners and regularly putting Tottenham’s star striker Son Heung-min on the ball.
He was locked in a battle with young Brighton full-back Tariq Lamptey on the wing, but Ghana defended well and limited South Korea’s chances.
Then came Ghana’s two goals within 10 minutes and as Bento’s side walked off the pitch at half-time it didn’t seem likely there would be a way back into the game.
Southampton’s Salisu pounced on a scramble in the box to break through in the opener after 24 minutes before Kudus hit Ayew’s cross and sprinted for the corner flag in a frenzied celebration.
But Gue-sung suddenly had South Korean fans on their toes – some even on the verge of tears – after two stunning headers brought the teams level and briefly silenced the dancing Ghana fans.
The momentum was with South Korea, but Kudus was clinical when he scored a decisive third goal after team-mate Inaki Williams missed a cross from the left.
Ghanaian keeper Lawrence Ati Zigi was forced into several saves in the final minutes as South Korea threw everything at Ghana but to no avail.
The full-time scenes indicated the significance of the result for both teams, the true significance of which will be felt after the Uruguay-Portugal game in Monday’s late kick-off in Group H.
