chances to get on the board early in the second

SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Reduced to 10 men for over half the match, Belgium still beat South Korea 1-0 on Thursday to finish atop of Group H and eliminate the last Asian team from the World Cup. With a late goal yet again, Belgium made the difference in the 78th minute when defender Jan Vertonghen followed up a shot from teenage striker Divock Origi and tapped in the rebound past goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu. "We knew all games were going to be tough," said Belgium coach Marc Wilmots. "But even with 10 men, we still pushed forward. These guys are really hungry." After three narrow victories and precious little beautiful play, Belgium will now play the United States in Salvador on Tuesday. "Mission accomplished," said Wimots. And along with Iran, Japan and Australia, South Korea departed as the last team from the Asian federation, all in the first round. Algeria finished second in the group after a 1-1 draw with Russia -- a result that meant South Korea needed a four-goal win to advance. They never came close. "All of our players did their utmost. They gave it their all but I think that it was my shortcoming, my failing as a coach that caused this result," said coach Hong Myung-Bo. The former captain of the 2002 team which reached the semifinals did not offer his resignation, though. South Korea did not go without a strong fight, landing the ball on Belgiums crossbar on the hour-mark and testing standout goalie Thibaut Courtois with several shots afterward. Yet even with a man up, the Koreans could never pressure Belgium enough to find an opening and paid the price. For scorer Vertonghen it was a bit of redemption after he caused the penalty against Algeria in the opener which forced Belgium into late histrionics to come back and claw out a 2-1 victory. "I really felt bad after that but now only joy is left," he said. Belgium promised to play with flair in this tournament but is proving that its still a master at grinding out results. "It gives us so much confidence to get those nine points with only 10 men and prepare for the Americans in that mood," Vertonghen said. Having a goalie like Courtois does make it easier, especially as its defence was missing injured starters Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen. But the Belgians also proved they sorely lacked the creative skills of Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard, who were on the bench from the start. On the hour mark, South Korea came closest to scoring when Son Heung-min saw a cross float right onto the crossbar beyond the reach of Courtois. Belgium fielded four World Cup newcomers, but was reduced to three in the 45th minute when Steven Defour planted his studs, leg outstretched, into the shin of Kim Shin-wook. Australian referee Benjamin Williams didnt hesitate to pull out the red card. Earlier, the South Koreans almost scored around the half-hour mark. First, a long-distance drive from Ki Sung-yeung forced Courtois into a great diving save and, one minute later, Defour kicked a ball off the line in another goalmouth scramble. Mertens could have lifted the pressure off Belgium in the 25th minute he was left wide open eight meters out. He skied the ball over, immediately opening his mouth in disbelief at having missed such a chance. In the second half, South Korea brought on a second full striker in Lee Keun-ho for even more pressure. The Asians created a flurry of chances early in the second half, but either Courtois showed his class or the South Koreans lacked any precision. ------ Lineups: South Korea: Kim Seung-gyu; Lee Yong, Kim Young-gwon, Hong Jeong-ho, Yun Suk-young; Lee Chung-yong, Han Kook-young (Lee Keun-ho, 46th), Ki Sung-yueng, Son Heung-min (Ji Dong-won, 73rd); Koo Ja-cheol, Kim Shin-wook (Kim Bo-kyung, 66th). Belgium: Thibaut Courtois; Anthony Vanden Borre, Daniel Van Buyten, Nicolas Lombaerts, Jan Vertonghen; Steven Defour, Moussa Dembele, Dries Mertens (Divock Origi, 60th), Marouane Fellaini, Adnan Januzaj (Nacer Chadli, 60th); Kevin Mirallas (Eden Hazard, 88th). Manny Pina Brewers Jersey . -- Rodney Stuckey scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half, and the Detroit Pistons beat the New York Knicks for the first time in eight meetings, 92-86 on Tuesday night. Hank Aaron Brewers Jersey . - Jordan Addesis shootout goal helped the Plymouth Whalers to a 3-2 win over the Sault Ste. https://www.cheapbrewers.com/ . The Raptors second-year forward has been one of the primary beneficiaries of the early-season trade, breaking out and becoming a vital part of his teams success on both ends of the floor. Around the league, teams are starting to take notice and feature Ross more predominately in their pre-game scouting reports but its not just the opposition that hes impressing. Corbin Burnes Brewers Jersey . Cammalleri scored two goals, Corban Knight netted the winner in a shootout, and the Flames erased a two-goal deficit in the third period to beat the Stars 4-3 on Friday night. Gio Gonzalez Brewers Jersey . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell while figuring out which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value.SAN JOSE, Calif. - The Calgary Flames ability to bounce back from tough losses is the biggest reason for their early-season turnaround.Karri Ramo made 32 saves for his third career shutout and Jiri Hudler scored both goals to lead the Flames over the San Jose Sharks 2-0 Wednesday night.Hudler broke a scoreless tie with a goal in the second period and sealed the game with an empty-netter on the power play late in the third. Calgary rebounded a night after losing 3-2 in Anaheim to win for the ninth time in 10 games following a loss this season.I think everybody here in the room knows that if we just keep playing our game were going to win many games, Ramo said. In the long run, we dont have to panic. Just play our game and focus on our own game.Antti Niemi made 17 saves for the struggling Sharks, who have lost four straight. San Jose hasnt led at any point during the skid, marking the first time since February 2013 that the Sharks have gone four straight games without a lead.I think the chances are there, forward Patrick Marleau said. Hopefully its like a big buildup and its going to break soon and well start getting on a winning streak.After playing a record 16 of their first 21 games on the road, the Sharks were hoping to find their stride on a six-game homestand. But they have lost the first three games in that stretch and have just two wins in eight games at the Shark Tank this season.Every game is critical, coach Todd McLellan said. Were in the thick of it right now. The rest of this homestand is critical but so are the next two road games and the home games after that. Were an everyday team right now just scrambling to get back to the point where we can get our heads above water.Ramo did his best to extend the Sharks misery, beating them for the third straight time. He has allowed only two goals on 94 shots in that span. He was tested a bit inn the third, but Marleau was stopped by defenceman Dennis Wideman from the side of the net and Ramo stopped Joe Thornton on a rebound chance.ddddddddddddThe Sharks also had chances to get on the board early in the second, but Marleau hit the crossbar during a power play.Ramo posted Calgarys first regular-season shutout in San Jose since Fred Brathwaite beat the Sharks 1-0 on Jan. 3, 2001. Miikka Kiprusoff also shut out San Jose in the 2004 Western Conference finals.Hes definitely the reason we won that game, Flames defenceman TJ Brodie said of Ramo. He made some big saves when we needed him to. He was solid all night.The Flames got on the board late in the second period during 4-on-4 action, taking advantage of a tired group of Sharks at the end of a long shift. Hudler started the play by taking the puck into the offensive zone and then left it for Brodie. He sent it back to the slot for Hudler, who completed the pretty give-and-go with a wrist shot past Niemi to make it 1-0.Ramo preserved the lead late in the period with a strong glove save against Tommy Wingels.The Flames had a couple of prime scoring chances early, but Niemi robbed Johnny Gaudreau at the side of the net after a wild scramble in the opening minute and then stopped Paul Byron after a turnover by James Sheppard later in a scoreless first period.Some of the biggest excitement was generated by a group of Edmonton Oilers fans sitting at ice level who had junior hockey star Connor McDavids name taped on the backs of their jerseys. They alternated cheers for the Sharks with derogatory chants about the rival Flames.NOTES: Flames F Mikael Backlund had an abdominal procedure and is listed as week-to-week. ... Calgary placed F Devin Setoguchi on waivers. ... Former San Jose State G Ryan Lowe was signed as a backup to Niemi after Troy Groesnick got hurt in practice Tuesday. ' ' '