10-man Belgium beat South Korea to win Group H

Ten-man Belgium beat South Korea 1-0 to top World Cup Group H thanks to a second half goal from Jan Vertonghen at the Corinthians Arena on Thursday.

(L-R) Nicolas Lombaerts, Divock Origi and Moussa Dembele of Belgium. Photo by EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU
(L-R) Nicolas Lombaerts, Divock Origi and Moussa Dembele of Belgium. Photo by EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU

Steven Defour was shown a straight red card for a late tackle on Kim Shinwook in the first half and the Porto midfielder will miss Belgium's last-16 meeting with the United Sztates in Salvador on Tuesday.

But despite the man advantage Belgium made it nine points out of nine when substitute Divock Origi's shot was parried and Vertonghen scored from the rebound.

In the other game in Group H Algeria drew with Russia to secure their place in the last 16 where they will play Germany in Porto Alegre on Monday.

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots said he reorganised his team at half time and was pleased with the way they responded.

"I couldn't really see the red card; it's a shame for Steven. We were playing well with a new system and then the sending off came," he said.

"But we changed things at half time and played with two lines of four and closed down the middle to keep them at bay.

"The important thing was to get through. It is important that you have everyone fresh and we have achieved that winning all our matches and using the whole squad.

"We won even with 10 players today. It was a good training session for us in terms of coping with playing with a disadvantage of having a man less."

South Korea needed goals and they started brightly. There were shouts for a penalty when Moussa Dembele appeared to pull down Koo Jacheol in the area but referee Benjamin Williams waved away appeals.

Lee Chungyong then gave the ball straight to Marouane Fellaini in midfield and the Manchester United player's through-ball found Kevin Mirallas only for the linesman to give offside.

Fellaini was causing South Korea problems and from his knock down in the area Mirallas' shot was deflected and somehow, from the edge of the six-yard box, Dries Martens blazed over.

On the half-hour South Korea had their first real chance when Ki Sungyueng shot from distance and Thibaut Courtois palmed the ball away for a corner.

From the resulting kick Nicolas Lombaerts headed inadvertently goalwards and Steven Defour had to clear off his line. It was his moment of glory, the moment of shame was to come just before half time when he was shown a straight red card for a late tackle on Kim Shinwook.

South Korea had 45 minutes to make the most of the extra man and they had the first chance of the second half when Lee Chungyong crossed and substitute Lee Keuhno headed over.

At the other end Hong Jeongho looked to have fouled Fellaini just inside the area but the referee waved away half-hearted appeals from Fellaini for a penalty.

Belgium coach Wilmots who played against his opposite number Hong Myungbo in the 1998 World Cup brought on 19-year-old striker Origi who scored in the previous game against Russia and it changed the match.

Belgium threatened with a Mertens shot well saved by Kim Seungguy and Son Heungmin hit the bar with a floated cross before Ki went close with a header.

But Origi's pace on the break was now a real threat for South Korea and when he was finally given some service his speed and trickery forced a corner which he then headed over. 

Fellow substitute Nacer Chadli forced the next corner which South Korea defended with all eleven men in their penalty area despite their man advantage.

Their lack of ambition was costing them as the clocked ticked down on their tournament and they paid the price when Origi broke away again. His shot was parried by Kim in South Korea's goal but Vertonghen scored from the rebound.

After picking up the man of the match award the defender said: "I thought about the error I made against Algeria during that game and then I was left out of the next match but I put that behind me and today was important.

"The whole squad is delighted that we are through that is why I celebrated with the bench. We won with 10 men and we have come out of the group with nine points.

"We can be full of confidence going into the next game against the USA."

South Korea coach Hong Myung Bo took full responsibility saying: "The players gave everything it was my own shortcomings that has led to us being knocked out. I will think about my future as coach after the tournament.

"We needed to score and we became more aggressive when they went down to 10 men but we never got in behind them and that cost us. We collapsed against Algeria in the previous match and that is what I really regret."