Belgium 1
Vertonghen 78;
S. Korea 0

Jan Vertonghen’s late goal saw 10-man Belgium beat South Korea 1-0 in their final Group H match last night, despite having Steven Defour sent off just before half-time for a nasty two-footed challenge.

The win made it a maximum nine points for the Belgians, who will meet the United States in the last 16 in Salvador on Tuesday while South Korea head for the exit.

The European side had already qualified for the next round, having beaten Algeria and Russia in their first two games, and even a draw would have been enough to claim first place and avoid Germany in the next round.

When Defour was given a straight red for a needless, studs-up challenge on Kim Shin-wook, the game opened up for the Koreans after the break.

But although they had plenty of possession and a series of clear chances, they were caught on the break when Belgium’s substitute Divock Origi struck from distance.

Keeper Kim Seung-gyu palmed the ball into the path of the onrushing Vertonghen, who put it away with ease in the 78th minute.

An even first period saw Dries Mertens miss a golden chance for Belgium eight metres from goal when he shot well over while, at the other end, Ki Sung-yueng had a shot well saved by keeper Courtois.

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots made seven changes from the team that beat Russia, with Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen dropping out due to injuries.

Belgium: 1-Thibaut Courtois; 5-Jan Vertonghen, 15-Daniel Van Buyten, 18-Nicolas Lombaerts, 21-Anthony Vanden Borre; 8-Marouane Fellaini, 14-Dries Mertens (60 17-Divock Origi), 11-Kevin Mirallas (88 10-Eden Hazard), 19-Mousa Dembele, 16-Steven Defour; 20-Adnan Januzaj (60 22-Nacer Chadli).

South Korea: 21-Kim Seung-gyu; 12-Lee Yong, 3-Yoon Suk-young, 5-Kim Young-gwon, 20-Hong Jeong-ho; 16-Ki Sung-yeung, 14-Han Kook-young (46 11-Lee Keun-ho), 17-Lee Chung-yong, 9-Son Heung-min (73 19-Ji Dong-won), 13-Koo Ja-cheol; 18-Kim Shin-wook (66 7-Kim Bo-kyung).

Referee: Felix Brych (Germany).

Red card: Defour (B) 45.