South Korea reached the World Cup knockout phase in dramatic style Friday, scoring in stoppage time to beat already qualified Portugal and condemn Uruguay to a painful exit.
With the clock ticking down at Education City Stadium, the Koreans knew they needed one more goal to leapfrog the South Americans and Hwang Hee-chan delivered to secure a 2-1 victory.
The Korean players stood in a huddle watching the final minutes of the Ghana vs Uruguay match on a mobile phone as they waited for their place in the last 16 to be confirmed.
Uruguay, leading 2-0, needed one more goal to go through but fell agonisingly short despite piling on the pressure.
Uruguay and South Korea ended the group phase level on four points and with an identical goal difference but crucially the Koreans had scored two more goals, which meant they finished second in Group H behind Portugal.
Tottenham forward Son Heung-min, who produced a brilliant assist for the winner, said he was crying "tears of happiness".
"We waited really long for this moment and we as players believed altogether we could do this," he said. "There were moments when I wasn't able to do my best and I am thankful for my team-mates that they were able to cover me in the moments I wasn't able to fulfil my duties. I'm very proud of them."
Earlier Uruguay crashed out of the World Cup despite beating Ghana 2-0 after South Korea scored a late winner in the other Group H match to leapfrog the South American side.
Giorgian De Arrascaeta netted twice in quick succession in the first half, with 35-year-old Luis Suarez having a hand in both goals.
However, Suarez finished the match on the bench in tears as the news came in of South Korea's last-gasp victory over Portugal, which meant the Asian side had moved above the Uruguayans into second place in Group H on goals scored.
"We had several chances to score the third goal (which would have put Uruguay through)," said Uruguay coach Diego Alonso.
"For 80 minutes we were qualified and we had lots of chances, but in the end it wasn't possible."
Also Friday, Switzerland booked a last-16 showdown with Portugal at the World Cup after a 3-2 win over Serbia in a bad-tempered match secured them second place in Group G.
Xherdan Shaqiri's deflected strike put the Swiss ahead but Aleksandar Mitrovic's fine header brought Serbia level at Stadium 974.
Dusan Vlahovic then gave Serbia the lead only for Breel Embolo to equalise before half-time.
Remo Freuler's brilliant goal early in the second half sent the Swiss through to the knockout rounds for the fourth time in five World Cups.
In an inconsequential match, Vincent Aboubakar headed in a stoppage-time winner and was then sent off as Cameroon claimed a memorable 1-0 victory over favourites Brazil at the World Cup Friday, but still failed to go through to the last 16.
Aboubakar, who had come in to captain Rigobert Song's team, connected with a cross from substitute Jerome Ngom Mbekeli to break the deadlock in the 92nd minute at Doha's Lusail Stadium.
Players of Switzerland celebrate defeating Serbia 3-2 and qualifying to the next round of the tournament, at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group G football match between Serbia and Switzerland at Stadium 974 in Doha.
South Korea's Kim Young-gwon scores their first goal against Portugal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group H - match Education City Stadium Friday. Reuters