World Cup - South Korea 1 Portugal 0

Portugal were reduced to nine men and assaulted referee Angel Sanchez to crash out of the World Cup finals.

Defeat for the US meant a draw was enough for the Portuguese but they started to playing for the draw on the half hour mark and then paid the price after going down to ten men when Joao Pinto hacked through the back of Ahn Jung-hwan for an ugly and dangerous foul on 27 minutes for Argentine referee Sanchez to instantly dismiss him.

Sanchez was surrounded by furious Portuguese players and defender Fernando Couto held the referee’s head with his hands in a repetition of the scenes at their exit in a Euro 2000 semi final that saw three players banned for their assault on officials.

A minute after the red card Korea scored with Vitor Baia missing a conrer but Choi was penalized for a foul on the goalkeeper as he challenged.

The half ended in uncertainty as Portugal heard of the US’ imminent defeat against Poland.

The game died as both teams were satisfied with a draw at that point.

But the home team were in better form after the break.

Yoo Sang-chul crossed for Seol Ki-hyeon to head wide and seconds later in the 48th minute Yoo himself rose to send a header just wide form a cross from the left hand side.

Portugal had their best chance in the 62nd minute when a back header from a Luis Figo corner to the near post went under the bar but goalkeeper Kim Byung-ji clawed away the chance.

Beto then killed off his side’s chances.

He hacked down Seol on the left wing and was booked for a second time.

This was the signal for Figo – current World Player of the Year – to refuse to run and kick every ball away from himself as hard as he could before the Portuguese settled down to using nine men.

By then they were trying to get back into the World Cup finals.

Park Ji-sung was unmarked at the far post to meet a corner from the left to chest the ball down and come inside to drive through the legs of goalkeeper Baia at the near post.

Substitute Nuno Gomes failed to kick a high ball through the middle as the Korean defence went missing and Kim fel on the ball to save the lead.

Song Chong-gug saw Baia advance to save at his feet with two minutes to go and in the last minute Sergio Conceicao volleyed against the post and Ahn had a great chance to score but Baia made a great save. Seol missed another chance in the last seconds which Baia saved.

Kim fisted away a shot from the left by Conceicao in the 93rd minute and the Portuguese were done.

Portugal’s defeat – a test of character they failed.

Korea meet Italy on Tuesday.