Algeria beat South Korea 4-2 to close in on last 16

Updated: 2014-06-23 05:20 (Agencies)

(L-R) South Korea's Kim Shin-wook reacts, as Algeria's Carl Medjani, Rafik Halliche and Essaid Belkalem celebrate at the end of their 2014 World Cup Group H soccer match at the Beira Rio stadium in Porto Alegre June 22, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil - Algeria opened the goal scoring floodgates swamping South Korea 4-2 in a thrilling World Cup Group H clash on Sunday that kept hopes of securing a spot in the last 16 alive and triggered celebrations across the Arab nation.

Algeria's first World Cup victory since 1982 moved them into second place in the group on three points behind Belgium, who beat Russia 1-0 earlier in the day to top the standings on six.

South Korea and Russia, who drew 1-1 in their tournament opener, both have one point.

The only Arab presence in the tournament, the 'Desert Foxes' have never made it past the first round but are now in pole position to earn a spot in the knockout phase.

Belgium have already booked one of the group's two slots in the last 16.

After seeing a 28-year World Cup goal drought end in a 2-1 loss to Belgium in their opener, the Algerians unleashed a goal scoring spree on the Koreans, Islam Slimani, Rafik Halliche and Abdelmoumene Djabou all finding the net in an astonishing first half display of all-out attacking football.

South Korea, however, were not about to throw in the towel and started the second half with an urgency missing at the start, Son Heung-min driving a low shot past Rais Mbolhi to cut the deficit to 3-1.

The Asians continued to press forward and Ki Sung-yeung forced a sensational diving save from Mbolhi with a thundering long range shot.

On the back foot, Algeria took the steam out of the Korean rally when Yacine Brahimi netted on the counter-attack making them the first African team to score four goals in a World Cup match.

The end-to-end action continued, the never-say-die Koreans pulling another one back in 72nd minute when Koo Ja-cheol scored from a scramble in front of the Algerian net to make it 4-2.

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