Defender Jan Vertonghen scored from a rebound in the 78th minute to give 10-man Belgium a 1-0 victory over South Korea on Thursday to clinch top spot in Group H at the World Cup.
It was Belgium’s third straight victory of the group stage and set up a meeting with the Unites States in the round of 16,
South Korea was eliminated with the loss — joining the other three Asian nations at the tournament.
Vertonghen was a stand-in captain for injured star Vincent Kompany. He knocked in the winner after South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu had saved a shot from Divock Origi.
Belgium was reduced to 10 men just before the break when Steven Defour was sent off for a two-footed challenge, but South Korea couldn’t capitalize.
Lineups:
South Korea: Kim Seung-gyu, Lee Yong, Yun Suk-young, Kim Young-kwon, Hong Jeong-ho, Ki Sung-yeung, Han Kook-young, Son Heung-min, Lee Chung-yong, Koo Ja-cheol, Kim Shin-wook.
Belgium: Thibaut Courtois; Anthony Vanden Borre, Daniel Van Buyten, Nicolas Lombaerts, Jan Vertonghen; Marouane Fellaini, Steven Defour, Moussa Dembele; Dries Mertens, Kevin Mirallas, Adnan Januzaj.
Source: UNBConnect