The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) once again brought up Son Heung-min's iconic moment. It was a scene that stirred memories of football fans around the world ahead of the World Cup.
FIFA on the 8th (all times KST) highlighted Son Heung-min's decisive assist from the final group-stage match of the 2022 Qatar World Cup between Korea and Portugal through its official channels. With the North and Central America World Cup about two months away, FIFA is sequentially introducing past World Cup memorable moments after all 48 final tournament participants were confirmed. In that process, Son Heung-min's play was also summoned again as a key moment.
The situation at the time was desperate. Korea was in the same group as Portugal, Uruguay and Ghana, and after two group-stage matches it faced elimination with one draw and one loss. To advance to the round of 16, a win in the final match was absolutely necessary.
Portugal was already a strong team that had secured first place in the group, but the flow of the match changed in the final moments. With the score tied 1-1 in added time of the second half, Korea cleared a corner kick and immediately switched to a counterattack. Son Heung-min, who gained possession, began an explosive run from just below the halfway line. Evading defenders in succession and charging into the area in front of the box, he threaded a precise pass to Hwang Hee-chan, who was making a late run.
Both the timing and trajectory of the pass were perfect. It was a decisive single choice that pierced the opposing defense. Hwang Hee-chan did not miss it and calmly finished to rattle the net. Korea completed a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory.
But the win alone was not enough. Fate hinged on the result of the Uruguay-Ghana match taking place at the same time. At the moment Korea finished its match, Uruguay was leading 2-0, and Korea, trailing on goal difference, still faced elimination.
Tension continued until the final moment. If Uruguay scored one more goal, Korea would be eliminated. But Ghana did not concede any more goals until the end, and with the match finishing as it was, Korea dramatically took second place in the group and advanced to the round of 16.
In the end, it all started with Son Heung-min's single run and pass. FIFA also evaluated this scene as the decisive moment that changed Korea's fate. It was a play with significance beyond a simple assist.
The scene recalled ahead of the upcoming North and Central America World Cup shows that Son Heung-min remains a player who can stand at the center of the stage. Time has passed, but the influence of that moment remains ongoing.
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