World Cup

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Attendance: 61,397

World Cup | Group Stage

Jun 26, 2014 at 9pm UK

South Korea South Korea
0-1
Belgium

FT(HT: 0-0)

Vertonghen (78')
Defour (45')

Belgium see off South Korea

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 26 June 2014

Belgium defeat South Korea 1-0 in today's World Cup Group H game in Sao Paulo, ensuring that the Red Devils qualify with a 100% record.

Belgium have defeated South Korea 1-0 in today's World Cup Group H game in Sao Paulo, ensuring that the Red Devils qualify with a 100% record while sending the Taeguk Warriors out of the competition with a solitary point and bottom of the group.

Hong Myung-Bo's side were quick off the starting blocks as only a heavy win would give them a chance of progressing to the next round, and they showed their attacking intent, powering forward as early as the third minute, but the referee halted the move due to offside.

Belgium, somewhat rattled in the early stages, were threatened once again in the 12th minute when Kim Young-Gwon blasted his effort high and wide.

The Red Devils, however, upped their tempo as the game went on, and Kim had to thwart a last-minute Anthony Vanden Borre surge into the box. The Belgian players appealed for a penalty, but this wasn't given.

Just four minutes later, Kevin Mirallas succeeded in getting the ball into the opposition net, but this was disallowed due to offside, while in the 25th minute, Dries Mertens wasted a good chance from just 10 yards.

Just after the half-hour mark, however, the Taeguk Warriors caused panic in the Belgium box when Ki Sung-Yeung's effort forced Thibaut Courtois into a save, just moments before a chaotic goal-line clearance.

Towards the end of the first half, Steven Defour went in studs-first on Kim Shin-Wook and the referee produced a straight red card for the Mechelen-born midfielder, leaving the Red Devils a man down.

Buoyed by the man advantage, South Korea picked up from where they left off at the start of the second period, as substitute Lee Keun-Ho's long-range effort drew another skilful save from Courtois before heading over from the resulting corner.

Son Heung-Min then caused more panic on the hour mark as he lashed a curling cross that bounced off the Belgium crossbar.

The Red Devils, however, kicked into gear towards the midway point of the second half, when Divock Origi blasted his header into an opposition player and into touch, but a goal kick was awarded.

South Korean hearts were well and truly broken just a few minutes later when Origi's problematic low drive was spilt by Kim Seung-Gyu, which allowed Jan Vertonghen to strike the ball into the empty net.