Son Heung-min predicted team-mate Hwang Hee-chan would score the dramatic late goal that sent South Korea into the knockout stage at Uruguay’s expense.
Tottenham forward Son set up Hwang for the 91st-minute winner that sent Korea through on goals scored, after they finished level on points and with the same goal difference as Uruguay. After his dramatic goal, substitute Hwang revealed Son had told him before the game he would do something special.
“Before the match, Son told me I was going to create something today,” said Hwang. “He said ‘we trust you’. When I went on as a substitute, a lot of my team-mates also said they trusted me.
“When Son got the ball, I was convinced he would pass to me and it was an excellent pass - it made my job easy.”
Korea’s players faced an agonising wait until the final whistle in the game between Uruguay and Ghana confirmed their place in the last 16.
“It was difficult waiting for the other result, but we proved we can make it to the knockout phase and we kept that trust,” said Hwang. “This is something we wanted and we expected. I want to share these great feelings with the Korean people back home."
At the last World Cup, Son cried tears of despair, as South Korea went out at the group stage, despite beating Germany. Four years on and Son, slumped on all fours on the Education City pitch, shed tears of joy, after Korea’s dramatic 91st-minute winner sent them through to the knockout stage.
Son, who broke down in tears at the final whistle, said: "These tears are tears of happiness. We waited really long for this moment and we as players believed altogether we could do this.
"I believe we got the result we wanted because we worked really hard. I’m really proud of our players."
The face mask Son must wear, after fracturing an eye socket in the build-up to the World Cup, was thrown into the air in jubilation, as the enormity of their achievement sank in.
Son had provided the assist for Wolves star Hwang Hee-chan, whose clinical finish produced more dramatic scenes at a World Cup that continues to throw up remarkable narratives, just 24 hours after Japan's win over Spain dumped Germany out.
Yet even after the final whistle, Korea’s players and staff were forced to endure an agonising wait to see if Uruguay, leading Ghana 2-0, would score again to knock them out on goal difference.
Korea’s players and coaching staff huddled into a mass group inside the centre circle, watching the final scenes unfold in the other game on mobile phones, willing it to end to confirm their date with destiny.
The intolerable wait lasted nearly 10 minutes, but confirmation of Korea’s passage to the last 16 came with the sight of drinks being sprayed into the night sky and players and staff leaping around uncontrollably, before performing a mass dive in front of their delirious fans.
After the dust had settled on a frantic finale, the cold facts were that Korea went through on goals scored, after finishing level on points with Uruguay and with the same goal difference.
Korea’s progress to the knockout stage was fully deserved, a nation that reached the semi-finals in 2002 now looking to create fresh history.
They showed incredible spirit and resolve in their second group game, coming from 2-0 down to level against Ghana, only to fall 3-2 down, with referee Anthony Taylor blowing the final whistle as they prepared to take a corner.
That sent coach Paulo Bemto into meltdown, his subsequent sending-off meaning he was banished to the stands for this breathless encounter, unable to share the joy with his players on the pitch and having to wait until the dressing-room to join the celebrations.
With Portugal already through to the knockout stage, coach Fernando Santos took advantage by resting key players, including Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias.
A surprise starter was captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who sat out training on the eve of the final group game.
It seemed an unnecessary gamble to start Ronaldo, given Portugal’s place in the last 16 was assured, and he cut a peripheral figure, eventually replaced after 65 minutes.
Portugal went ahead in the fifth minute, Diogo Dalot cutting the ball back for Ricardo Horta to apply a first-time finish.
Korea levelled in the 25th minute through Kin Young Gwon, who steered in from close-range as Portugal switched off.
Son had a chance to grab that all-important goal, but his 55th-minute effort was blocked by Antonio Silva.
But Korea were not to be denied, Son racing the length of the pitch and delaying his pass long enough to draw three players to him, before sliding it to Hwang, to complete a remarkable night.
