South Africa dump Portugal, South Korea shock Argentina out of FIFA U20 World Cup

Brave defending helped South Africa earn a 1-1 draw against Portugal at the Bielsko-Biala Stadium on Friday night, ensuring the European champions missed out on the Round of 16 at the Fifa U-20 World Cup Poland 2019.

Rafael Leao kicked things off for the Portuguese in the 19th minute. The 6ft 2ins (1.88m) centre-forward settled Thierry Correia’s cross from the right side and poked past goalkeeper Khulekani Kubheka at close range to open the scoring.

South Africa won a penalty in the 52nd minute after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) adjudged Diogo Leite to have handled the ball in his attempted clearance. Up stepped James Monyane to the spot, and the Amajita No 12 converted calmly to level the match.

Just five minutes later Portugal were awarded a penalty of their own in a near-identical situation; this time South Africa’s Fezile Gcaba was the handball culprit. But Kubheka came up big to save Jota’s ensuing spot-kick.

Portugal controlled the ball for most of the remainder of the match, but South Africa were unrelenting, winning their first point at Poland 2019 while sending the Portuguese packing.

Similarly, Korea Republic are through to the last 16 of the Fifa U-20 World Cup after ending Argentina’s unblemished start with a deserved 2-1 win in Tychy.

La Albiceleste advance as group winners all the same due to a superior goal difference but, after having it all their own way in their opening two matches, found themselves outplayed and outgunned tonight.

The Asian champions created the better chances in a physical, fast-paced game, and only a desperate goal-line clearance from Maximiliano Centurion prevented Cho Youngwook firing them into a 25th-minute lead.

The breakthrough came three minutes before halftime, though, when Oh Sehun crashed home an unstoppable header from Lee Kangin’s tantalising left-footed cross.

Argentina pushed for an equaliser but made little headway and the outcome never looked in doubt after Cho swept Korea Republic’s second into the roof of the net following a fine run on the left by the lively Jeong Hojin.

Cristian Ferrera did pull a goal back two minutes from time with a speculative long-range shot that deceived keeper Lee Gwangyeon, but it was to prove too little, too late for the South American hopefuls.

Korea Republic now go on to face continental rivals Japan in the Round of 16, while Argentina till take on Mali.

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