Hwang Hee-chan said team-mate Son Heung-min predicted he would fire South Korea to glory ahead of his dramatic injury-time winner against Portugal, while Uruguay boss Diego Alonso refused to blame his players after they tumbled out of the World Cup in dramatic circumstances.
South Korea are through to the last 16 of the World Cup after they came from a goal down to secure a 2-1 win at the Education City Stadium on Friday night.
The South Korean players huddled in a nervous circle to watch the final extraordinary minutes of Uruguay's clash with Ghana unfold on mobile phones.
But after Uruguay failed to add to their two-goal advantage, South Korea celebrated taking the runner-up spot in Group H behind Portugal by virtue of scoring more goals than the South Americans.
Wolves' Hwang, who missed his country's opening two matches through injury, came on as a 66th-minute substitute before he thrashed home Son's assist following a superb dribble and pass by the Tottenham forward directly from a Portugal corner.
"Before the match Son said, 'you are going to create something today, we trust you'," said Hwang.
"When Son got the ball I was convinced that he would pass it to me. It was an excellent pass and it made my job much more easier.
"It was difficult waiting for the result of the match between Uruguay and Ghana, but we proved once again that we could make it to the knockout stage.
"As a Korean citizen I am extremely proud, and I would like to thank all the Korean supporters. I am glad I can give them this present."
Portugal, whose passage to the knockout stages had already been secured, were bidding to become the first side to win all three group games at this tournament.
Uruguay boss Diego Alonso refused to blame his players after they tumbled out of the World Cup.
Two first half goals from Giorgio de Arrascaeta, after Sergio Rochet saved Andre Ayew's penalty, looked like sending Uruguay through as Group H runners up with a 2-0 win over Ghana.
But the late drama in Korea doomed them to exit and some Uruguay players harangued the officials at the final whistle after Edinson Cavani had a late penalty appeal turned down.
Alonso said: "I don't have anything to say to my players because they broke their backs, they gave their best versions. I don't want to use excuses but everyone can see what happened in the previous matches.
"I know my players gave it all, they did their best to have a good match and today we can't say anything to our players.
"I believe in my players, they responded well, I am thankful. I deeply regret we are out of the World Cup, I truly believe in these players and what they could have achieved in this World Cup."
Former Inter Miami boss Alonso also declined to talk about his future after elimination.
"I think it's too early to talk about it (his future) let's wait for some days and we will discuss it," he said.
De Arrascaeta struck twice in six first-half minutes, heading in from close range before finishing off a flowing move with a low volley, after Ayew was denied from the spot.
The result for Uruguay was never in doubt after that but they could not find a third goal with Federico Valverde denied by Lawrence Ati-Zigi before former Liverpool and Sunderland defender Sebastian Coates poked wide late on.
Mohammed Kudus went close for Ghana, who knew a win would have sent them through, but the Black Stars are also knocked out.
Boss Otto Addo, talent coach at Borussia Dortmund, revealed he would step down having taken charge after Milovan Rajevac was sacked in January.
He said: "At the moment me and my family see our future in Germany, I always said if we qualified for the World Cup I would resign afterwards, even if we were world champions. This is my decision.
"Football is beautiful, sometimes it is ugly. It is ugly for us today, there is no human being in the world who hasn't missed a penalty.
"In the second half we had a lot of chances but we have to do better in defence, allowing two chances against these world-class strikers is two too much.
"We have to learn and I'm very sure we will learn from this in the future."
Despite the defeat, Portugal still finish top of the group to avoid a possible second-round meeting with Brazil, who look likely to win Group G.
"We lost our organisation, our focus, and Korea controlled more of the game," said Portugal head coach Fernando Santos.
"Of course our players were motivated, but we conceded a goal when they were on a counter-attack and this can happen at a major tournament.
"We are upset. We finished first of the group, but we wanted to win, and we wanted a better game in order to increase the morale of the players.
"That said, they will not be unmotivated. I trust my team, but this result serves as a warning to them."
