Ghana won an exhilarating match packed with twists and turns against South Korea in front of a vibrant crowd at Education City Stadium in Qatar.
A 10-minute spell in the first half by the African nation gave them a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals from Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu and Ajax's Mohammed Kudus.
However, noisy celebrations by Ghana fans at half time were dampened by a South Korea comeback after the break.
Two stunning headers in three minutes from Cho Gue-sung, top-scorer in his domestic league, levelled the game after 61 minutes.
But the impressive Kudus, who had deftly headed in Jordan Ayew's cross in the first half, added a final twist when he thumped in a third for Ghana to break South Korea's hearts.
Chances continued to fall South Korea's way as they searched for another equaliser but, despite 10 minutes of added time, Ghana held on.
Ghana scored three goals in a World Cup match for the first time
There were emotional scenes at the final whistle as many South Korea players fell to the ground while manager Paulo Bento was sent off for arguing with English referee Anthony Taylor for not allowing a corner to be taken despite the 10 minutes having elapsed.
In contrast, elated Ghana substitutes sprinted onto the pitch to celebrate as fans in the stand blew whistles and danced in celebration.
With Portugal to come next for South Korea, this feels a significant defeat, while Ghana - unfortunate to lose against Portugal - will face Uruguay in good spirits in their final game.
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Dramatic ending to key match in Group H
It was a frenetic game from beginning to end as both teams enjoyed spells of pressure without ever gaining sustained control.
South Korea started quickly, winning numerous corners and getting star forward Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur on the ball regularly.
He was locked in a battle with young Brighton full-back Tariq Lamptey down the wing but Ghana defended well and limited South Korean chances.
Then came Ghana's two goals in 10 minutes and as Bento's side trudged off the field at half time, a way back into the game did not appear likely.
Southampton's Salisu pounced on a scramble in the box to poke in the opener after 24 minutes before Kudus flicked on Ayew's cross and sprinted to the corner flag in delirious celebration.
But Gue-sung suddenly had South Korea fans on their feet - with some even close to tears - after two superb headers brought the teams level and briefly silenced the dancing Ghana supporters.
The momentum was with South Korea but Kudus was clinical when he thumped in a third and decisive goal after team-mate Inaki Williams had missed a cross from the left.
Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi was forced into several saves in the closing minutes as South Korea threw everything at Ghana but to no avail.
The scenes at full time indicated the importance of the result to both teams, the real significance of which will be felt after the Uruguay-Portugal game in Monday's late kick-off in Group H.
Player of the match
LampteyTariq Lamptey
with an average of 8.33
- South KoreaSouth KoreaSouth KoreaGhanaGhanaGhana
South KoreaAvgSquad number9Player nameCho Gue-SungAverage rating
7.86
Squad number4Player nameKim Min-JaeAverage rating
6.83
Squad number18Player nameLee Kang-InAverage rating
6.80
Squad number7Player nameSon Heung-MinAverage rating
6.68
Squad number3Player nameKim Jin-SuAverage rating
6.54
Squad number5Player nameJung Woo-YoungAverage rating
6.51
Squad number25Player nameJeong Woo-YeongAverage rating
6.51
Squad number16Player nameHwang Ui-JoAverage rating
6.41
Squad number6Player nameHwang In-BeomAverage rating
6.39
Squad number17Player nameNa Sang-HoAverage rating
6.39
Squad number22Player nameKwon Chang-HoonAverage rating
6.35
Squad number15Player nameKim Moon-HwanAverage rating
6.31
Squad number19Player nameKim Young-GwonAverage rating
6.29
Squad number20Player nameKwon Kyung-WonAverage rating
6.21
Squad number1Player nameKim Seung-gyuAverage rating
5.78
GhanaAvgSquad number2Player nameLampteyAverage rating
8.33
Squad number20Player nameKudusAverage rating
8.07
Squad number4Player nameSalisuAverage rating
8.04
Squad number9Player nameJ AyewAverage rating
7.95
Squad number10Player nameA AyewAverage rating
7.90
Squad number1Player nameAti-ZigiAverage rating
7.76
Squad number18Player nameAmarteyAverage rating
7.71
Squad number21Player nameAbdul SamedAverage rating
7.69
Squad number5Player nameParteyAverage rating
7.68
Squad number14Player nameMensahAverage rating
7.65
Squad number19Player nameWilliamsAverage rating
7.62
Squad number22Player nameSulemanaAverage rating
7.28
Squad number8Player nameKyerehAverage rating
7.26
Squad number23Player nameDjikuAverage rating
7.10
Squad number17Player nameBabaAverage rating
6.97
Squad number3Player nameOdoiAverage rating
6.66
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsSouth Korea
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Kim Seung-gyu15Kim4Kim19Kim Young-Gwon3Kim5Jung Woo-Young6Hwang22Kwon25Jeong7Son Heung-Min9Cho
- 1Kim Seung-gyu15Kim4KimSubstituted forKwonat 90+2'minutes19Kim Young-GwonBooked at 77mins3Kim5Jung Woo-YoungBooked at 27minsSubstituted forHwangat 79'minutes6Hwang22KwonSubstituted forLeeat 57'minutes25JeongSubstituted forNaat 45'minutes7Son Heung-Min9Cho
Substitutes
- 2Yoon8Paik10Lee Jae-Sung11Hwang Hee-Chan12Song13Son14Hong Chul16Hwang17Na18Lee20Kwon21Cho Hyun-Woo23Kim24Cho26Song
Ghana
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Ati-Zigi2Lamptey18Amartey4Salisu14Mensah5Partey21Abdul Samed20Kudus10A Ayew9J Ayew19Williams
- 1Ati-Zigi2LampteyBooked at 73minsSubstituted forOdoiat 78'minutes18AmarteyBooked at 21mins4Salisu14MensahSubstituted forBabaat 88'minutes5Partey21Abdul Samed20KudusSubstituted forDjikuat 83'minutes10A AyewSubstituted forKyerehat 78'minutes9J AyewSubstituted forSulemanaat 78'minutes19Williams
Substitutes
- 3Odoi6Owusu7Fatawu8Kyereh11Bukari12Danlad13Afriyie15Aidoo16Nurudeen17Baba22Sulemana23Djiku24Sowah25Semenyo26Seidu
Referee:Anthony TaylorAttendance:43,983Match StatsHome TeamSouth KoreaAway TeamGhanaPossessionHome63%Away37%ShotsHome22Away7Shots on TargetHome7Away3CornersHome13Away5FoulsHome13Away9Live Text Post update
Match ends, Korea Republic 2, Ghana 3.
90'+11'Full Time
Second Half ends, Korea Republic 2, Ghana 3.
90'+11'Post update
Corner, Korea Republic. Conceded by Salis Abdul Samed.
90'+11'Post update
Attempt blocked. Kwon Kyung-Won (Korea Republic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Hwang In-Beom.
90'+10'Post update
Attempt missed. Lee Kang-In (Korea Republic) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
90'+9'Post update
Corner, Korea Republic. Conceded by Abdul Rahman Baba.
90'+8'Post update
Kwon Kyung-Won (Korea Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+8'Post update
Foul by Iñaki Williams (Ghana).
90'+6'Post update
Foul by Cho Gue-Sung (Korea Republic).
90'+6'Post update
Alexander Djiku (Ghana) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+6'Post update
Attempt blocked. Kim Jin-Su (Korea Republic) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kim Young-Gwon with a cross.
90'+5'Post update
Hwang In-Beom (Korea Republic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+5'Post update
Foul by Kamaldeen Sulemana (Ghana).
90'+4'Post update
Corner, Korea Republic. Conceded by Lawrence Ati-Zigi.
90'+4'Post update
Attempt saved. Cho Gue-Sung (Korea Republic) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Lee Kang-In.
90'+4'Post update
Corner, Korea Republic. Conceded by Denis Odoi.
90'+3'Post update
Kwon Kyung-Won (Korea Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+3'Post update
Foul by Iñaki Williams (Ghana).
90'+2'Substitution
Substitution, Korea Republic. Kwon Kyung-Won replaces Kim Min-Jae.
90'+1'Post update
Attempt saved. Na Sang-Ho (Korea Republic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kim Jin-Su.
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