Portugal ended the 2022 World Cup group stage with a 2-1 defeat to South Korea. The Seleção took the lead in the 5th minute, Diogo Dalot beating his marker and putting the ball on a plate for Ricardo Horta.
South Korea equalized in the 27th minute when Ronaldo failed to clear a corner, diverting the ball straight into the path of Kim Young-Gwon who finished from close range.
Portugal looked most likely to snatch a late winner but were caught on the counter following a corner. Son Heung-Min raced clear and showed his class by teeing up Hwang Hee-Chan who beat Diogo Costa from close range.
The defeat made no difference to Portugal’s position at the top of Group H, the Seleção into the Round of 16 where they will take on Switzerland, Serbia or Cameroon in Lusail.
PortuGOAL’s Matthew Marshall reports from Education City Stadium.
Santos rings the changes
Portugal came into the encounter with a three point lead at the top of Group H, Fernando Santos using the opportunity to make six changes.
António Silva was handed his competitive debut, the 19-year-old starting in central defence next to 39-year-old Pepe.
Diogo Dalot came in at right back which saw João Cancelo switch to the left flank. Rúben Neves held his spot in the holding role with Matheus Nunes and Vitinha starting in midfield.
Cristiano Ronaldo earned his 194th cap with João Mário and Ricardo Horta occupying the wide attacking roles.
There was no place for João Palhinha, Rafael Leão or Gonçalo Ramos.
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Fast start
The Seleção started in the best possible fashion and took the lead in the 5th minute.
Pepe’s long ball down the right channel released Diogo Dalot, the right-back taking a great first touch before breezing past Kim Jin-Su, driving into the box and laying the ball into the path of Ricardo Horta who made no mistake.
The Seleção survived a scare in the 17th minute when Diogo Costa saved Cho Gue-Sung’s header, the ball eventually falling to Kim Jin-Su who scored from an offside position.
Horta was doing an effective job defensively, frequently dropping deep to assist Dalot in nullifying the threat posed by Son Heung-Min.
Matheus Nunes started to get involved in the game, delivering a dangerous cross towards Ronaldo which was cleared by Kim Young-Gwon. The centre-back was soon involved at the other end of the pitch.
South Korea hit back
South Korea’s equaliser came in the 27th minute when a corner was swung into the box, Ronaldo turning his back on the ball which rebounded straight into the path of Kim Young-Gwon who finished from close range.
Dalot continued his fine start to the game when he drifted inside, collected a long pass from Costa and fired a left footed effort that was turned wide by Kim Seung-Gyu. The Manchester United right-back then created a shot for Crisitano Ronaldo which was blocked.
Ronaldo had another opportunity minutes later, following up Vitinha’s shot that was saved by Kim Seung-Gyu, but he was unable to steer his diving header on target.
Portugal went into the break with plenty of confidence, Vitinha displaying some silky skills to release Dalot, his cross finding Horta who forced another save from South Korea’s increasingly busy goalkeeper.
Half time at the wrong time
The Seleção were unable to maintain their momentum after the break however, Rúben Neves making a vital interception after a fast break and Antonio Silva blocking a shot from Son Heung-Min who had moved from the left wing to a central attacking position.
Fernando Santos made a triple substitution in the 65th minute when João Palhinha, Rafael Leão and André Silva replaced Matheus Nunes, Rúben Neves and Ronaldo.
South Korea’s assistant manager Sergio Costa, standing in for the suspended Paulo Bento, replaced Lee Jae-Sung with Hwang Hee-Chan.
Game opens up
The Asian side had to win to have any chance of staying in the competition and played as such, Hwang In-beom testing Costa before Son Heung-Min’s volley was blocked by Cancelo.
Leão tried his luck from distance when a pass would have presented Horta with a 1 on 1 opportunity, Santos making two more changes in the 81st minute when João Mário and Vitinha made way for Bernardo Silva and William Carvalho.
Sucker punch
Portugal were looking most likely to find a winner before they were caught on the counter in added time.
It came from a corner, the ball cleared to Son Heung-Min who burst clear and ran the length of the pitch before being surrounded, the crowd favourite laying the ball into the path of Hwang Hee-Chan who beat Costa from close range.
Diogo Dalot shines
Diogo Dalot was handed his first start in the competition and took his chance with a man of the match performance.
He created the opening goal and was impressive at both ends of the pitch, largely nullifying Son Heung-Min who made regular incursions into his part of the pitch.
Nuno Mendes’ injury has opened the door for Dalot to become a regular starter with João Cancelo switching to left-back ahead of Raphaël Guerreiro.
Promising performances
Rúben Neves made a number of trademark long balls which instantly put Portugal on the front foot, one in the second half that released Cancelo a joy to watch. Santos’ selected the Wolves midfielder despite being a card away from suspension.
Matheus Nunes started well but was eventually outshone by Vitinha, the PSG midfielder showing great close control, ability to link up with teammates and his ability offer a goal threat.
António Silva makes history
It’s been a remarkable season for António Silva. Handed his top flight debut in Benfica’s 3-0 win at Boavista on 27 August, the 19-year-old has gone from strength to strength.
It was anticipated that the youngster would eventually make way for Morato, Lucas Veríssimo or João Victor, but his form was simply too good for an Eagles side that kept keeping clean sheets and winning games.
Roger Schmidt had no choice but to keep him in the starting side alongside Nicolás Otamendi, producing consistent performances in all six Champions League matches as Benfica topped Group H that featured PSG and Juventus.
Fernando Santos included him in the World Cup squad and he played all 90 minutes in the 4-0 win against Nigeria. He made his competitive debut against South Korea, becoming the youngest Portuguese player to feature at the World Cup.
With Danilo Pereira injured, Rúben Dias a booking away from suspension and Pepe turning 40 in February, it was vital that he got some playing time in case he is required in the knockout rounds.
Silva didn't do much wrong in Doha, coming off his line to make some important interventions, a memorable one in the 77th minute when he came out and flattened Son Heung-Min.
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Ronaldo
Ronaldo had a poor game, starting with an error that led to South Korea’s equalizer. The 37-year-old was unable to affect the game in the attacking third, missing a difficult chance after Vitinha’s shot was saved.
He was involved in a clever 1-2 with Vitinha before overplaying his pass to Horta, but that was largely the extent of his impact in the attacking third.
The record international goalscorer was replaced by André Silva in the 65th minute, the third straight match where Santos has taken him off the pitch.
I said after the 1-0 defeat to Spain in Braga that signs of an inevitable decline seemed clear. Regardless of this performance, he was involved in both of Portugal’s opening goals against Ghana and Uruguay and will continue to start in the knockout rounds.
Settle down
The defeat will serve as a useful wake up call, particularly in defence where they can definitely improve in transition.
Fernando Santos used the opportunity to make six changes, keeping four guaranteed starters on the bench in Rúben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and João Félix.
Victories against Ghana and Uruguay proved to be enough to finish top of Group H, putting them into a favourable part of the draw where their path to the final excludes Argentina and Brazil.
Portugal followed a trend at the World Cup where France, Spain and Brazil all lost after fielding weakened teams in their final group game with top spot virtually assured.
Line Ups
Portugal (4-3-3): Diogo Costa, Diogo Dalot, Pepe, António Silva, João Cancelo, Rúben Neves (Rafael Leão, 65’), Matheus Nunes (João Palhinha, 65’), Vitinha (William Carvalho, 81’), João Mário (Bernardo Silva, 81’), Cristiano Ronaldo (André Silva 65’), Ricardo Horta
South Korea (4-3-3): Kim Seng-Guy, Kim Jin-Su, Jung Woo-Young, Hwang In-Beom, Son Heung-Min, Cho Gue-Sung (Yu-mim Chos, 90’), Lee Jae-Sung (Hwang Hee-chan, 65’), Kim Moon-Hwan, Lee Kang-In (jun-ho Son, 81´), Kim Young-Gwon (Ui-jo Hwang), Kwon Kyung-Won.
Goals:
[1-0] Ricardo Horta, 5’
[1-1] Kim Young-gwon, 27’
[2-1] Hwang Hee-chan, 90+1’
