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| ◇Hwang Hee-chan (left) and Lee Jae-sung are giving high-fives of victory after the World Cup qualifier against Jordan held at Amman International Stadium in Amman, Jordan, on the 10th. Hwang Hee-chan, who was replaced by an ankle injury during the first half, greeted his teammates one by one on the back of his staff. Yonhap News |
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| ◇Coach Hong Myung-bo, who instructs Lee Kang-in to operate during the match against Jordan at Amman International Stadium in Amman, Jordan, on the 10th. South Korea won 2-0 with consecutive goals from Lee Jae-sung in the first half and Oh Hyun-kyu in the second half. Yonhap News |
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| Oh Hyun-kyu enjoying home fans and goal celebrations. Yonhap News |
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[Amman(Jordan) = Reporter Yoon Jin-man of Sports Chosun] Behind the thrilling revenge play against Jordan was the national soccer team coach Hong Myung-bo's knuckles and one-team spirit.
In July, Hong, who took the helm of the A team for the first time in 10 years, won the desired result with a better performance in the third match (2-0 wins) against Jordan on the 10th than the first match of Group B (0-0 draw) in the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup against Palestine, which was his second debut. He narrowly won the away match in Oman with captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham)'s one-man show, but he won the match against Jordan at Amman International Stadium and boarded the flight to Korea with a more comfortable mind.
The national team seemed to be intimidated by the unilateral cheering of Jordan's home spectators in the first half, but succeeded in taking the lead with Lee Jae-sung's first goal in the 38th minute of the first half. Seol Young-woo (Trvenazvezda), who assisted Lee Jae-sung's header, said "Coach Hong Myung-bo ordered him to go up high and cross often. I'm not a good player, I don't prefer crosses, as you know, but I was able to lead to a goal because the players prepared well in the box."
Coach Hong said to ace Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), 'Two or three opposing players play defense. At that time, he demanded to make a simple play using an empty colleague. Lee Kang-in, who played as a right striker, actually carried his opponents deep in the sideline, shaking the opponent's defense with pressure through dribbling and accurate long passes, and making a difference in the game. Lee Kang-in "I thought about what the coach said before the game. I'm very satisfied because the team won with a good play."
The road to victory is not always easy. On this day, left strikers Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) and Um Ji-sung (Swansea City) were injured one after another in the first half and the second half. With Son Heung-min not called up to the national team in the aftermath of his hamstring injury, even two major substitutes are in an environment where they cannot be utilized. Hong handled unexpected variables skillfully. In addition to Bae Joon-ho (Stoke City), who is the "left striker 3 options", striker Oh Hyun-kyu (Henk), whose main character is bold play, tried to change the offense, and this mercenary technique hit the mark. Oh Hyun-kyu, who warmed up his toes with two bold mid-range shots, gave his team a valuable additional goal in the 23rd minute of the second half with a right foot shot that stabbed into the corner of the goal. It was his first goal in the 12th game of the A-match.
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Coach Hong judged that there was a problem with the process of solving the attack or the way of corner kicks in the match against Palestine, and in the match against Oman, Lee Jae-sung was drastically removed from the starting line and the corner kick method was changed, which paid off. Keep the big frame, but touch the details. Again this time, he selected a young player in place of a veteran. Cho Yoo-min (Sharja) contributed to the win without losing a point as a partner of Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich).
Hong's London bronze medal scene also highlighted his "one-team spirit". Son Heung-min, an absolute presence in the stadium and locker room, was overcome with solid teamwork. Seol Young-woo said "(Son) Heung-min has a great influence, but I don't think Heung-min's absence will weaken our team. (Because Son Heungmin is out)I think the players were trying to prepare better." Lee Jae-sung, who was named the man of the match, said, `The players who replaced Son Heung-min did a good job." Kim Min-jae said, `I tried to do well as a team by talking well with my team members rather than leading the team.'
Of course, Coach Hong Myung-bo and Son Heung-min are included in the `One Team.' Cho Hyun-woo said, `I don't know what's being said on YouTube. Inside the national team, the players are following well because they have trust (in the coach) and charisma. I'm sure we'll continue to play well like this." Coach Hong actively led the team with more movements and gestures than usual in the technical area. Son Heung-min did not forget to send a 'Wishful message' to the players before the game to encourage them. Korean soccer is gradually stabilizing after overcoming the five-month managerial vacuum caused by the Klinsmann era's 'lost year' and the Korea Football Association's sketch administration.
yoonjinman@sportschosun.com
