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10-man Belgium sends Korea home 1-0

  SAO PAULO, Brazil -- South Korea’s road to the World Cup ended Thursday in Sao Paulo as a 10-man Belgium took a late victory over the Taeguk Warriors 1-0. Meanwhile, Algeria secured its first-ever ticket to the Round of 16 by tying Russia 1-1 in Curitiba.

  Captain Jan Vertonghen took a rebound off goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu to score in the 78th minute, for Belgium to win its third straight match in the last 20 minutes.

  Thursday’s match concluded Korea’s Brazil campaign and ninth World Cup appearance, after drawing with Russia 1-1 and losing to Algeria 4-2.

  Korea’s coach Hong Myung-bo made two changes to his previous lineups: Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu came on for Jung Sung-ryong, while Kim Shin-wook, who appeared in the second match with Algeria, started in place of scoreless forward Park Chu-young.

  Belgian coach Marc Wilmots, meanwhile, made seven changes, opting to give his younger players some time on the field ahead of the knockout rounds.

  Possession played out evenly in the midfield throughout the first half, though eventually tipping toward Belgium as Dries Mertens and Kevin Mirallas put pressure on the left. After Mertens’ failed free kick in the first 10 minutes, he made an attempt in the goal area around minute 24 off a pass from Mirallas, but shot too high.

  Belgium almost faked out the defense in the 34th minute. Mertens drove into the penalty area and passed back to Mirallas while Korean defenders watched the ball. Mirallas returned to an unmarked Mertens, who shot too high again.

  Shortly after, defender Hong Jeong-ho received a yellow card for holding Belgium’s Mirallas. Mertens made the free kick, which goalkeeper Kim tipped over the crossbar.

  Korea gained some leverage at the end of the first half when midfielder Steven Defour received a red card after smashing into Kim Shin-wook’s ankle in a tackle, leaving the Belgians to play the second half one man short.

  Lee Keun-ho -- a substitute in the previous two games, who scored Korea’s lone goal against Russia -- brought a flair of energy to the front line in the second half, coming on for midfielder Han Kook-young to threaten the box several times.

  Mirallas attacked with a low shot in the 58th minute, but Kim cleared it and Son swooped in to cross the ball out to safety.

  Immediately Korea rebounded and sent the ball to the other side of the pitch. Son drove the ball down the right and shot in the 59th minute, but his shot hit the crossbar and flew out on the left side.

 In the 78th minute, goalkeeper Kim blocked a shot by second-half Belgian substitute Divock Origi, but Vertonghen took advantage of the rebound and scored the lone goal of the game.

  Star midfielder Eden Hazard came on for Mirallas with two minutes left, but the game was already won.

  After the final whistle, defender Kim Young-gwon lay motionless in the grass near the Korean goal as the team took in its defeat. The Taeguk Warriors slowly made their rounds to the 61,000 spectators and bowed to its fans. Son Heung-min, in tears, was among the last of the team to leave the pitch.

  The team returns to base camp in Foz do Iguacu on Friday morning to recover before returning to Korea.

  Korea was the last Asian Football Confederation team to go home without a victory, with Japan, Iran and Australia having already left winless in the group stage.

  Even if Korea had beaten Belgium, it would not have passed Algeria in the standings to succeed to the knockout rounds. Russia would have had to beat Algeria, and Korea would have had to beat Russia by goal difference.

  At the top of Group H with nine points, Belgium moves on to play Group G’s second seed, the U.S., in Salvador on July 1. Algeria, with four points, will play Germany in Porto Alegre on June 30.

   
  By Elaine Ramirez, Korea Herald correspondent (elaine@heraldcorp.com)