This game is too much. To call the Friday morning decider between South Korea and Portugal a nailbiter is an understatement. Ask the Koreans all over the world.
52 million of them held their collective breath as Korean superstar player Son Heung-min latches onto a deflected ball in extra time near their penalty area after a Portuguese corner kick, races 80 meters towards the Portugal goal, only for 8 defenders to catch up and surround him, virtually making it impossible for him to have a clear attempt at goal.
The ball momentarily got stuck behind his feet but then produced a bit of magic, with a split second to spare to do something while trapped, he passes the ball through the legs of a Portuguese defender to an onrushing Hwang Hee-Chang, who then takes a first touch, stays on-side and blasts the ball past the keeper and into the net.
Education City stadium was pandemonium. Kids in Korean dorm rooms rush the corridors in a fit of excitement. Fans crying in the stands. Jaws dropped. What a moment of release. What a beautiful game.
It was not over though, they had 7 more minutes in extra time to protect their lead. In the meantime, the other group game was still ongoing between Uruguay and Ghana. Uruguay was leading 2-nil early on and was mathematically in the lead to progress because South Korea and Portugal were still tied at 1 all.
But when South Korea scored a minute into extra time, Uruguay then had to score one more goal to make up for the goal difference. That’s where you can sense the tension on both venues. After their win, South Korean players could be seen huddled checking out the results from the other game while their results soon trickled over to the Uruguayan players’ dismay and panic.
Uruguayan veteran star player Luis Suarez can be seen on the bench in despair after getting substituted earlier as his team huffed and puffed to score another goal to clinch via goal difference.
This was agonizing to see as this was going to be Suarez’ final game in the world cup because of age and retirement waiting.
It could be a schadenfreude moment for some fans who haven’t forgiven him for his deliberate handball against Ghana in the 2010 World Cup quarter finals.
Luis Suarez handball prevented them from scoring outright in 2010 and possibly advanced. They instead missed a penalty kick, lost the game and got eliminated. And so for Ghana to be the one in preventing Uruguay to advance by one measly goal must be satisfying albeit pointless.
For Ghana, even if they did lose the game and a chance to advance, at least they took their old tormentor with them.
Some players like veteran striker Edison Cavani were visibly upset after the final whistle. Harassing the German referee for some of what they thought were missed calls during the game. It was a worrisome sight as they were surrounding him while tensions were high.
Cavani then can be seen in a video taken by a fan on social media pushing the VAR machine over as he left the pitch into the tunnel. In contrast with scenes of South Korean players in the other venue collapsing on the pitch, sobbing with utter joy for their incredible win.
What a sight to behold. Upsets, comebacks, tears and a lot of twists and turns seem to be a prevailing theme so far in this fascinating World Cup. And we’ve just finished the first round.
What could possibly be next?
Let’s watch, see and enjoy the ride.
