Coach Shin Taeyong and Team Korea rejoice after Kim Younggwon scores a goal three minutes into added time in the World Cup match between Korea and Germany at the Kazan Arena on June 27. Korea won 2-0.
By Jeon Han and Lee Hana
Photos = Yonhap News
Korea has risen as an unexpected star of the 2018 World Cup, with a victory worthy of going down in history.
Korea faced off against Germany in each of their third match in Group F at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, at the Kazan Arena on June 27. In a jaw-dropping match that overturned predictions made by football experts, Korea snatched victory from the German jaws of defeat with a final score of 2-0.
The probability of Korea entering the Round of 16 was slim from the start, given that Korea would have to defeat Germany, a reigning FIFA champion, and, at the same time, Mexico would have had to defeat Sweden.
Team Korea set out to play the final Group F match with a fighting spirit, hoping for a chance at redemption.
Kim Younggwon looks to the crowd after scoring Korea's first goal three minutes into added time in the World Cup match between Korea and Germany at the Kazan Arena on June 27.
With no goals scored by either side in both the first and second half, it appeared the game would end in a tie. Then the game took a sharp turn during added time.
Defender Kim Younggwon netted a goal in the third minute of added time from a corner kick.
Team Germany, sensing defeat, launched a series of attacks, but Son Heungmin made it 2-0 just three minutes later when he latched on to a hoofed ball and put it into an open goal.
Thanks to Korea's two goals, Germany was knocked out of the World Cup for the first time since 1938 when the system of 32-country preliminaries was introduced to the games.
Following the match, Kim Younggwon said, "The past four years have been truly tough, but this World Cup has made things a lot better. As the days ahead are more important, I will continue to do my best for Team Korea."
With that, Team Korea finished its run at this year's World Cup with one win and two losses, finishing third in Group F.
hanjeon@korea.kr
