South Korea became the first Asian team to reach the World Cup semifinals, beating Spain 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out after neither side scored a goal in 120 minutes on Saturday.
South Korean goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae saved Spain's fourth spot kick by Joaquin Sanchez and captain Hong Myung Bo calmly found the net to take South Korea into the last four.
The South Koreans, who hadn't won a game at five previous finals appearances, will clash with three-time champions Germany for a berth in the final.
The co-hosts' other successful penalties were converted by Hwang Sun-hong, Park Ji-sung, Seol Ki-hyeon and Ahn Jung-hwan.
For Spain, Fernando Hierro, Ruben Baraja and Xavi Hernandez scored.
South Korea escaped sudden death as Fernando Morientes hit the far post nine minutes into extra time.
In the first half, Spain looked better organized and more dangerous than the South Koreans, whose stunning giant-killing run had ousted pre-tournament favorites Portugal and Italy.
Morientes, who started in the absence of injured world class striker Raul, sent a powerful header to South Korean goal in the 27th minute.
Lee Woon-jae clutched the ball but fell back with the momentum. He leaned against a near polo keep the ball out of the goal line.
Spanish midfielder Javi de Pedro forced a brilliant tip-off save from Lee in the 45th minute.
In the 50th minute, South Korean midfielder Kim Tae-young headed a Spanish free kick into his own net, but the own goal was annulled for an earlier foul by Morientes.
In the 66th minute, Spanish keeper Iker Casillas made a wonderful diving save of Park Ji-sung's angled shot after the Spaniards had contained a series of attacks.
"I can't describe the feeling," South Korea coach Guus Hiddink said after the match. "I'm so happy for the boys."
"More dreams have come true. We'll have a little glass of champagne now and what comes tomorrow comes tomorrow," he added. " These fans are fantastic without any violence so I am so happy for them."
Spain coach Jose Antonio Camacho blamed the referee for Spain's failure to end decades of World Cup under-achievement.
"I thought the referee would be fairer in a quarter-final match like this," he said. "We fought to the end and went out because South Korea were luckier than us. I am just sorry we couldn't go any further."
Since reaching the final round in 1950, Spain have never been past the last eight.
Teams:
Spain (4-5-1): 1-Iker Casillas; 5-Carles Puyol, 6-Fernando Hierro, 20-Miguel Angel Nadal, 15-Romero; 22-Joaquin, 8-Ruben Baraja, 4-Ivan Helguera (19-Xavi 94), 11-Javi de Pedro (16-Gaizka Mendieta 70), 17-Juan Carlos Valeron (21-Luis Enrique 80); 9-Fernando Morientes
South Korea (4-4-2): 1-Lee Woon-jae; 22-Song Chong-gug, 4-Choi Jin-cheul, 20-Hong Myung-bo, 7-Kim Tae-young (18-Hwang Sun-hong 90); 21-Park Ji-sung, 6-Yoo Sang-chul (14-Lee Chun-soo 61), 5-Kim Nam-il (13-Lee Eul-yong 32), 10-Lee Young-pyo; 19-Ahn Jung-hwan, 9-Seol Ki-hyeon
Match referee: Gamal Ghandour (Egypt)
Linesmen: Ali Tomusange (Uganda)
Michael Ragoonath (Trinidad)
Editor: May
Source: Xinhua
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