3rd Match Against Portugal at Midnight on the 3rd Next Month
If Draw or Lose, Elimination Confirmed
Uruguay Must Defeat Ghana for Advantage
If Draw, Goal Difference Situation Must Be Considered
If Ghana Wins, Round of 16 Hopes Dashed
On the afternoon of the 28th (local time), the Group H second match between South Korea and Ghana was held at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, during the 2022 Qatar World Cup group stage. South Korea's Cho Gue-sung scored the equalizing goal and is celebrating. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] The South Korean national football team, aiming for the Round of 16 in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, once again faces the test of "possible scenarios." South Korea lost 2-3 to Ghana, a match in which a victory was necessary, increasing the pressure for the third match. South Korea must defeat Portugal, the likely leader of Group H, to keep their chances of winning alive based on various scenarios.
In the Group H second match of the tournament held at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, at 10 PM (Korean time) on the 28th, the South Korean national football team faced Ghana and lost 2-3 after a fierce battle. South Korea remains with 1 point from 1 draw and 1 loss. Cho Gue-sung became the first South Korean player to score multiple goals in a World Cup, but the defeat was due to defensive organization weaknesses. Injured players like Son Heung-min and Kim Min-jae showed fighting spirit until the end, but the equalizing goal never came.
Now, all eyes are on the Group H third match, which will be held simultaneously at midnight on December 3rd. Portugal secured their place in the Round of 16 as the only team in Group H by winning 2-0 against Uruguay on the 29th. Portugal must secure first place in the group to avoid Brazil in the Round of 16. If Portugal suffers a defeat against South Korea, depending on the result of the Ghana-Uruguay match, Portugal could fall to second place in the group. Portugal having to put full effort into the match against South Korea could be a variable.
If South Korea does not win against Portugal and either draws or loses, elimination from the Round of 16 is confirmed. If South Korea beats Portugal, it is relatively more advantageous for Uruguay to defeat Ghana. In this case, South Korea and Uruguay would both have 4 points. However, Uruguay’s goal difference after the second match is -2, while South Korea’s is -1. If South Korea beats Portugal 1-0 and Uruguay beats Ghana 2-0, the goal difference would be equal at 0. But in terms of goals scored, South Korea has 3 and Uruguay has 2, so South Korea would advance to the Round of 16. Uruguay must win against Ghana by at least 3-0 to hope for advancement if South Korea wins.
If Uruguay and Ghana draw, Ghana will have 4 points and Uruguay 2 points. Uruguay’s elimination from the Round of 16 is confirmed, and Ghana must compare goal difference with South Korea. Ghana’s goal difference after the second match is 0, better than South Korea’s. In goals scored, Ghana has 5 and South Korea has 2, so Ghana is in a better position. If Ghana draws with Uruguay, South Korea must win against Portugal by at least a two-goal margin to hope for advancement.
If Ghana beats Uruguay, South Korea’s advancement to the Round of 16 will be impossible even if they win against Portugal.
Meanwhile, South Korean national team coach Paulo Bento, who received a red card in the match against Ghana, will be unable to direct from the bench in the match against Portugal. Although unlikely, if South Korea and Uruguay are tied in goal difference and goals scored, rankings could be decided by fair play points. Both South Korea and Uruguay have received 3 yellow cards each after the second match. The yellow and red cards received by Coach Bento are not included.
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