THE highly-fancied Portugese are heading home after falling to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of South Korea.

Park Ji Sung scored with 20 minutes left as South Korea edged past Portugal who were reduced to nine men to win Group D.

The South Koreans also helped the USA advance to the second round, while sending the Portuguese team home.

The U.S. was embarassed by already-eliminated Poland in Daejeon, 3-1.

Park's goal allowed South Korea to maintain the perfect record of host nations, who have advanced from the first round at every World Cup.

Park chested down a long pass, lifted the ball past Sergio Conceicao and drove a low left-footed shot between the legs of Portuguese goalkeeper Vitor Baia.

Playing with nine men for the final 25 minutes, Portugal nearly grabbed a point from the match by throwing everyone forward and came close to scoring on three different occasions in the last minutes.

With the exception of the final 10 minutes, Portugal played an incredibly undisciplined match.

It turned really ugly in the 27th minute, when Joao Pinto launched a nasty tackle from behind on Park, earning a straight red card.

The Portuguese players approached Argentine referee Angel Sanchez in protest, but they really had no argument.

In fact, Couto can consider himself lucky for not being sent off for touching the official on the face with both hands.

The match was still scoreless when Beto, who was issued a yellow card in the 22nd minute, made a foolish tackle on Lee Young Pyo in the 65th, earned a second caution and was dismissed.