South Korea's Ahn Jung-hwan celebrates his golden goal against Italy after their second round World Cup Finals match in Taejon yesterday. South Korea defeated Italy 2-1 and will play Spain in the quarter-finals on Saturday. - Reuters

SOUTH KOREA pulled off yet another stunning result in a World Cup already overflowing with shocks, eliminating three-time champions Italy in extra time yesterday and advancing to the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win.

The South Koreans, who hadn't won a match at five previous trips to soccer's biggest event, got an equaliser two minutes from regulation time and then a golden-goal winner from Ahn Jung-hwan in the 117th minute, sending Italy in the footsteps of France and Argentina.

The win set up a quarter-final showdown against Spain at Ulsan on Saturday and sparked nationwide celebration.

Ahn, who missed a penalty shot in the fourth minute, scored on a header off a floating pass as the South Koreans matched the 1966 feat of North Korea, who

became the first Asian team to advance to the quarter-finals on a shocking win over Italy.

Guus Hiddink, who took over the South Korean squad last year, said this sort of result would have been unimaginable three months ago.

"We beat one of the superpowers of world football. They are very clever and they are very dangerous," Hiddink said. "This is unique what the Korean players have done so far."

Christian Vieri had given Italy the lead with a header in the 18th minute. South Korea levelled it with just two minutes left when Seol Ki-hyeon pounced on a defensive error by Christian Panucci.

"We are going on and we are enjoying it very much," Hiddink said. "We know we have tonight to celebrate and people must celebrate ... I am glad we could make it for the Korean people."

The former Real Madrid coach said he wasn't thinking about Spain just yet.

"I have seen them play and I am glad it is Spain because I have a love for Spain but I do not care tonight. "Tomorrow is another day."

The Italians were reduced to 10 men 13 minutes into overtime when Francesco Totti earned his second yellow card for diving by Ecuadorean referee Byron Moreno. Totti had also been booked in the 22nd minute for a clash with Lee Min-sung.

Giovanni Trapattoni said refereeing decisions had robbed his Italian lineup throughout the tournament.

"We go out with our heads held high, but with a lot of recriminations," he said. "If we think about who should have won, I'd say it should have been Italy ... (but) soccer is like that."

As Ahn sprinted to the corner of the field to celebrate his goal, fireworks erupted outside the stadium and the 40,000 fans, virtually all dressed in the shirts of their beloved "Red Devils", burst into celebration.

The crowd started chanting "Dae Han Min Guk," or "Republic of Korea," as the Koreans did a victory lap and then joined arms in front of the main stand, jumping and dancing in a line.

Vieri's goal looked like the game-winner until the 88th minute.

The Internazionale striker outmanoeuvred a pack of defenders to meet Totti's corner from the left side and angled a header between Lee Woon-jae and the near post.

Vieri's fourth goal of this tournament lifted his World Cup career total to nine, tying Roberto Baggio and Paolo Rossi for the national record. After his goal, Vieri ran to the sideline with his right forefinger to his lips, telling the home fans the Italians were going to silence them. He was so wrong.

Instead, the game-winner was sweet for Ahn, whose weak penalty, awarded after Christian Panucci was penalised for dragging Seol Ki-Hyeon down inside the area, was saved by 'keeper Gialuigi Buffon.

Ahn also hooked a shot across goal in the 36th minute, had a free kick ricochet off the Italian defensive wall in the 44th and spiraled a left-foot shot over the crossbar from a free kick in the 58th.

South Korea advanced to the second round for the first time after winning their group with victories over world Portugal and Poland and a 1-1 tie with the United States.

The Italians, who scraped into the second round with a late equaliser against Mexico, were confronted with reminders of North Korea's triumph of '66 as they walked into the stadium, where thousands of white signs raised at the northern end of the stadium said: "Again, 1966".