2022 FIFA World Cup: Paulo Bento to serve touchline ban for South Korea vs. Portugal
In what could be his last match as manager of South Korea, Paulo Bento will serve a touchline ban for his team's final FIFA World Cup Group H clash against Portugal on Friday. Bento was shown a red card by English referee Anthony Taylor after the final whistle of Korea's 3-2 loss to Ghana.
(Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)
Paulo Bento saw the red mist and then a red card shortly after with his protests to Premier League referee Anthony Taylor after the final whistle were deemed to have been excessive by the Englishman.
Bento's side lost 3-2 to Ghana in their second FIFA World Cup Qatar Group H match on Monday, despite being able to claw themselves back level to 2-2 in the second half.
But, heading into the 12th minute of time added on with Korea trailing 3-2, the Taeguk Warriors won themselves a corner - centre back Kwon Kyung-won's long ranger took a deflection and Bento's men had one last chance to find an equaliser.
Or so they thought as Premier League referee Anthony Taylor blew for full time, sparking furious protests by the South Korean players and manager Paulo Bento who made a beeline for Taylor from the touchline.
A visibly furious Bento had several goes at Taylor before he was eventually shown a red card.
This means Bento will serve a touchline ban for South Korea's final group stage match against his native Portugal and with Bento's contract up after the conclusion of the World Cup, the former midfielder may never get the chance to stand in the technical area for South Korea ever again.
South Korea battled bravely to come back from 2-0 down against Ghana at Education City Stadium on Monday but two lapses in concentration in the first half meant Bento's men had a mountain to climb.
The first came on 25 minutes when Jordan Ayew's free-kick wasn't cleared and Mohammed Salisu was on hand to turn in the loose ball from inside the six-yard box.
Ghana's second came 10 minutes later through Mohammed Kudos, again with Korea not dealing with a ball in towards the six-yard box.
It was another dangerous ball in from Jordan Ayew.
Cho's brace wrote himself into the history books as, according to Opta, he became the first South Korean to score in a single World Cup match.
He is also the first Asian player to score two headers in a World Cup game.
But despite a barrage of balls into the box, Korea were unable to find a third goal.
Instead, they were punished by poor defending and allowed Kudos to bag his second of the night and what proved to be the match winner for Ghana.
Cho was one of three changes to Bento's starting lineup with Hwang Ui-jo dropping to the bench, as too Na Sang-ho in place of Kwon Chang-hoon, and Jeong Woo-yeong preferred to Lee Jae-sung.
Na came on at half time in place of Jeong and Kwon was hooked early in the second half and replaced by Lee Kang-in.
Lee's contributions were telling, providing the assist for Korea's first goal and coming very close to scoring himself from a free kick.
Korea take on Portugal this Friday at 6 PM local time or midnight Korea standard time with a place in the knockouts largely depending on the outcome of Uruguay versus Portugal later on Monday night.
Anything less than a win and it could be an early exit for the third World Cup in a row for South Korea.
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