South Korea grab last-gasp winner

Substitute Son Heung-min prodded home a 96th minute winner to give South Korea a precious 2-1 win over Qatar in Seoul on Tuesday and put them in sight of another World Cup finals appearance.

The 20-year-old striker was in the right place at the right time to complete the easiest of finishes after a looped shot from fellow replacement Lee Dong-gook hit the crossbar and fell away from Qatari goalkeeper Qasem Burhan.

The three points took South Korea top of the five team Group A on 10 points from five matches, two ahead of Uzbekistan who host bottom side Lebanon (four points) today.

With just two teams from each of the two Asian groups guaranteed a place in Brazil, Qatar’s heartbreaking loss leaves them facing an outside chance of reaching a first finals as they sit on seven points from six games, level with Iran but having played a game more.

The third place finishers can also book a berth if they win through two playoff rounds against another Asian side and a South America team.

But the Koreans are unlikely to require that route after a rousing final 30 minutes in Seoul on Tuesday which followed a drab first half where the Qataris affectively strangled the life out of the contest.

Super subs

Poor composure by the home side in the final third was also to blame for the early stalemate with Korean coach Choi Kang-hee turning to his bench early in the second period and the introduction of Lee Dong-gook changed the game. 

The more direct approach following the arrival of the 33-year-old forward led to the opening goal with a floated ball into the penalty area expertly flicked home by Lee Keun-ho on the hour mark.

The reigning Asian Player-of-the-Year, currently completing his military service at home, was afforded some rare space to loop his header over the despairing dive of Qatari goalkeeper Qasem Burhan.

The celebrations that followed perhaps went on too long, though, as Qatar made a rare foray forward into the Koreans half three minutes later and Khalfan Ibrahim was afforded too much room on the edge of the area to toe poke a cheeky effort in at the near post.

Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong, left unemployed for most the match, will feel he could have done better with the playmaker’s effort having got a hand to the low strike.

With the Qataris holding firm despite the huge waves of Korean pressure, coach Choi turned to his bench again to introduce Son for the final minutes, much to the pleasure of the home fans, and the poster boy came up with the goods in a dramatic finale.

Qatar next play their penultimate pool qualifier at home to Iran in June, while South Korea travel to Lebanon.