Belgium Vs. South Korea Results And Highlights: 10-Man Belgium Defeats South Korea 1-0 [VIDEO]

Belgium has a date with the United States in the round of sixteen after beating South Korea 1-0 on Thursday.

Despite playing the entire second half with only 10-men, Belgium proved why they were the favorites of Group H as they easily swept through the group winning every single match.

Going into the game, it was an absolute must win for South Korea if they wanted any possibility of making it out of the group. Belgium is the better team overall, but Belgium coach, Mark Wilmots made it a little easier on South Korea by not starting five of his usual starters including stars, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku.

With Belgium leading the group with 6 points, they only needed a result to guarantee a second round match versus the United States.

South Korea started 6’5” Kim Shin-Wook, otherwise known as “The Wookie”, for the first time in the World Cup.

Belgium had the first great opportunity of the game in the 25^th minute when Dries Mertens dodged a defender and had a wide open shot at the net as the goalie charged him. Unfortunately, Martens got under the ball too much and his attempt flew over the net.

South Korea had their best chance in the 28^th minute when Ki Sung-Yeung shot from long distance and Belgium’s keeper, Thibaut Courtouis, considered to be one of the best goalies in Europe was able to make the save by just getting his right hand on the ball.

In a game changing moment, Belgium’s Steven Defour was shown a red card in the final minute of the first half for his brutal challenge on the Wookie. Belgium would go on to play the entire second half with a man disadvantage.

The two teams went into halftime in a scoreless tie.

South Korea continued to build momentum in the second half against the 10-man Belgium squad. The Warriors had a few opportunities, but their Achilles heel has always been scoring and finishing off games in the final 1/3, something that on this day continued to plague the Asian country.

In a shocking turn of events in the 78^th minute, the undermanned Red Devils came down on a counter attack. A long distance attempt bounced off the hands of South Korean goalkeeper, Kim Seung-Gyu, and the rebound was tapped easily into the back of the net by Jan Vertonghen.

It was a tournament to forget for South Korea. The only remaining Asian country that had a chance to go to the round of 16, left with not much more than a whimper as they couldn’t muster a single goal against the 10-man Belgium squad.

Belgium will take on the United States on Tuesday in Salvador.

Game Notes:
Belgium has traveled the least out of any other teams in the World Cup. Comparatively, their second round opponent, United States has traveled more than any other team clocking over 10,000 miles in the air. The last six goals scored by Belgium have been in the final twenty minutes of the match.