Switzerland and South Korea reached the last 16 at the Qatar World Cup on the final day of group stage on Friday. Meanwhile, Uruguay were edged out despite defeating Ghana, and Cameroon stunned Brazil but still exited the tournament.

In Group G, Switzerland couldn't afford a defeat while Serbia needed a victory from their clash to secure a berth in the next phase. 

Xherdan Shaqiri put the Swiss ahead with a diagonal shot in the 20th minute, only for Aleksandar Mitrovic to quickly level the game.

Victory appeared possible for the Serbs when Dusan Vlahovic took advantage of a loss in possession by the Swiss and some poor defending to put them ahead 10 minutes from halftime, but Breel Embolo leveled at the end of a chaotic first half after more good work from the motivated Shaqiri.

Remo Freuler put the Swiss in front 3-2 in the 48th minute, and this time there was no way back for the Serbs, who looked increasingly tired as the half wore on.

In the other Group G match, Cameroon stunned Brazil 1-0 with a header from Vincent Aboubakar in injury time, but it wasn't enough to send them through after Switzerland's victory.

In Group H, South Korea booked their place in the last 16 with a 2-1 win over Portugal, which denied Uruguay a chance to proceed on goal difference.

Things had looked grim for South Korea against a much-changed Portugal when Ricardo Horta ran into space to fire home from around 10 meters out, but Kim Young-gwon slid home from close range in the 27th minute to give South Korea a lifeline.

The South Koreans kept their nerve in the second half and scored a dramatic winner in the first minute of injury time. Son Heung-min ran almost the full length of the pitch before slipping the ball to Hwang Hee-chan, who clipped the ball over the keeper.

About 10 minutes later, a 2-0 win for Uruguay over Ghana gave South Korea a second placed finish in the group, and regrettably, a 3rd place for a tearful Luis Suárez and his teammates. 

Both goals for Uruguay came from Giorgian de Arrascaeta in the first half, and they had two penalty appeals turned down for fouls on Darwin Nunez and Edinson Cavani.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: Breel Embolo #7 (C) scored the second goal for Switzerland in the 2022 World Cup Group G match against Serbia in Doha, Qatar, December 2, 2022. /CFP)