Striker Hwang Hee-chan on Dec. 2 handles the ball in Korea's third and final Group H game of the FIFA World Cup at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Yonhap News)

By Yoon Sojung

Striker Hwang Hee-chan's winning goal over Portugal in Korea's final Group H game of this year's FIFA World Cup in Qatar was named one of the top seven moments of the tournament.

The website of soccer's world governing body FIFA on Dec. 26 shared the post titled "Seven moments to remember from Qatar" with the subheading "From Muntari's landmark goal to Hwang Heechan's late winner, take a look back at seven of the most memorable moments of the FIFA World Cup Qatar."  

Hwang's goal was introduced fourth on the list under the title "Hwang's heroics spark Korean delight."

Portugal scored first in the first half of the game, FIFA said, but added, "Their fightback began when Kim Younggwon stabbed the ball home just before the half hour mark."

"With Ghana holding their side of the bargain, Son Heungmin slid through Hwang Heechan to score a dramatic added-time winner," it added. The Korean players on their smartphones watched Uruguay fail to score another goal against Ghana to secure Korea's advance to the round of 16. 

"Despite not leading a game for a single minute of regulation time, Korea Republic defied all the odds to qualify by the slimmest of margin," the article said.

The FIFA list also included Salem Al-Dawsari's goal for Saudi Arabia in his country's upset of eventual champion Argentina in a Group C match; Morocco's advance as the first African country to advance to the semifinals; Japan's upsets of global powers Germany and Spain in Group E to make the round of 16, and the scoring dual between Lionel Messi of Argentina and Kylian Mbappe of France in the epic tournament final.

FIFA named striker Hwang Hee-chan's goal that lifted Korea over Portugal in their final Group H game one of the seven moments to remember in this year's World Cup in Qatar. (Screen capture from FIFA website)

 arete@korea.kr