Belgium gets their third straight win as they defeat South Korea 1 - 0 at Arena de Sao Paulo in Sao Paulo Thursday, eliminating the last Asian team in the World Cup tournament.
Despite playing with a 10 - man team after Steven Defour was sent off the field after a "reckless tackle" against Kim Shin-wook on the 45th - minute mark of the match.
South Korea delivered several shots, attempting to score points during the first half of the match. However, their efforts were rendered futile as Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois repels their advance, such as Ki Sung-yeung's 25-yard shot.
Some of South Korea's shots lacked accuracy and precision during the first half, which forced them to send Lee Keun-ho to the field during the second half of the match in order to put pressure against Belgium.
However, a late-game goal by Jan Vertonghen brought victory to Belgium once more as his quick reflexes allows him to strike a follow-up shot from a rebound by goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, allowing the team to score a point on the 77th - minute mark.
"We knew all games were going to be tough," said Belgium coach Marc Wilmots in a statement in ABC News. "But even with 10 men, we still pushed forward. These guys are really hungry."
"Mission accomplished," he adds.
South Korea, along with Australia, Japan, and Iran, quietly depart as they are eliminated from the tournament.
"All of our players did their utmost. They gave it their all but I think that it was my shortcoming, my failing as a coach that caused this result," South Korea coach Hong Myung-Bo says in CBC Sports.
Belgium will face Group G's runner-up USA at Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador on Tuesday.
