Striker Luis Suarez scored a spectacular winner to earn Uruguay a place in the World Cup quarter finals at the expense of South Korea, after Uruguay beat South Korea 2-1.

It will be the first time since 1970 the two time winners have reached the last eight, although they will feel fortunate to have ended their barren run having spent long periods of the game defending at the rain drenched Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

But the South Koreans' luck finally changed for the better on 68 minutes when, from a free kick, Bolton's Lee Chung Yong pounced on Mauricio Victorino's attempted headed clearance, to nod in from eight yards.

It was the first goal Uruguay had conceded in the tournament and they came close to conceding a second when Lee Chung Yong failed to put any venom into his shot inside the area after he was beautifully played in by captain Park Ji Sung.

With 10 minutes remaining, the potent Ajax forward lurked on the fringes of the 18 yard area as a corner was swung in from the right. He cut in from the left before curling in as sweet a strike as any in the tournament so far to leave keeper Jung Sung Ryong rooted as the ball clipped the post on its way in.
 
Uruguay will now play the winners of the match between Ghana and the United States in the last eight.

The match between Ghana and the USA is now in extra time and Ghana leads the US 2-1 with a few minutes remaining in the match.

In the other playoffs tomorrow morning, Argentina is up against Mexico and England will face Germany.

Then Japan will take on Paraguay, Netherlands is up against Slovakia.