'Captain' Son Heung-min (Tottenham) made a comeback show. .
Tottenham won 4-1 in the eighth round of the English Premier League (EPL) in the 2024-2025 season against West Ham at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on the 19th (Korea time). Tottenham, which led 2-0 against Brighton and suffered a shock come-from-behind defeat of 2-3, changed the atmosphere with a great victory in the London derby.
Son Heung-min is finally back. Son Heung-min started in the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa League (UEL) match of Karabakh FK on the 27th of last month, but was replaced in the 23rd minute of the second half due to an abnormality in his right thigh. After the game, both Son Heung-min and coach Enze Postecoglou said it was not a big problem, but the situation was not. Son Heung-min missed all the following matches against Manchester United, Ferencvaros and Brighton. He did not even join the national team during the A-match period in October. Originally, he was listed on the Hong Myung-bo team, but coach Hong Myung-bo removed his name from the list to protect the players.
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Before the match against Manchester United, Postecoglou also said, `Everything is fine except for Son Heung-min. I don't think Son Heung-min is that bad. I'll see how he goes in training and make a decision from there,' but the injury was longer than expected. It was the first time Son Heung-min left the team for such a long time since November 2022, when he was out due to an orbital fracture injury. Even the national team was excluded, and the voices of concern became louder.
Fortunately, he crossed the A-match and recovered quickly. Son Heung-min is reportedly close to returning in person on the 13th. He posted a message on his social media, 'Back soon'(going back soon)', interposing a photo of him wearing a sweat suit and sneakers. Tottenham fans also cheered the post, saying they could not wait. Dr. Rajpal Bra, a V-Sang expert, also said, `Son Heung-min does not appear to be seriously injured. I think I will return after the A match period. But the important thing is how he looks in his training. You have to pass the physical test, and it's up to him to play full time."
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Coach Postecoglou said in a club interview on the 17th that Son Heung-min will return from the match against West Ham. He said, `Son Heung-min and Hisalysong were good. I trained with my colleagues. It's really positive news for us. Son Heung-min will be ready because he spent this A-match break really well. "I hope both players will be able to participate in the weekend game because the Hisalysong was also good."
Tottenham also released a video of Son Heung-min training with his teammates on its official YouTube channel. Son Heung-min, who appeared at the gym first, seemed to be in a light physical condition. Son Heung-min went to the training ground laughing with his teammates. On the 18th, he released photos of players who returned to the club to participate in training after the A-match period, and posted photos of Son Heung-min smiling in plain clothes.
Coach Postecoglou announced Son Heung-min's return at an official press conference against West Ham. Postecoglou said, `Son Heung-min is in good shape,' adding, `He has trained hard for the past two weeks. I regret not being able to play in the national team, but two weeks was a good time." Then "I had a solid training session. Now I'm ready to get back on the field. to be able to participate" he confirmed.
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As expected, Son was listed on the starting list. Son started on the left wing. Dominic Solanke was at the forefront, while Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson were on the left and right. In the center, James Madison, Dejan Klusevski and Yves Bissouma formed an inverted triangle. The four backs were centered on Christian Romero and Mickey van der Ben, with Destiny Udoghi and Pedro Porro on the left and right. The goal was guarded by Guglielmo Vicario.
West Ham fought back 4-1-4-1. Mikail Antonio stood on the front line, while Mohamed Kudus-Lucas Paqueta-Toma Soucek-Jarrod Bowen sat on the second line. Guido Rodriguez stood for the defensive midfielder. The four-back was made up of Emersong Palmeiri, Max Kilman, Jean-Claire Todibo, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The goalkeeper's gloves were worn by Alphonse Areola.
Son Heung-min had a return match that couldn't have been better. He played on the ground for 70 minutes, and succeeded in inducing one goal and one starting point and one earned goal. In fact, he made three goals. Son made 43 touches on the day. He made 26 passes, showing an 84% pass success rate. Two chances were created, and two of the four shots were headed to the net. He also made one dribble. In 20 games against West Ham, he scored nine goals and seven assists, showing a natural enemy.
The first shot came out in the 7th minute of the first half. Johnson's shot missed. 10 min West Ham make a threatening scene. Bowen tried a ground ball cross after breaking through on the right. Kudus jumped in and shot. Vicario saved it with a super save. In the 15th minute, Son Heung-min made a great shot. He attempted a signature right foot swirling shot over Wan Bissaka from the left side of the penalty box. It's a little off. Son Heung-min covered his face and was disappointed.
The Bowen-Cudus duo, who made a good 10-minute chance, flashed again. 18 min Bowen broke through the right and tried to cut back. Kudus finished by jumping in. West Ham got ahead. A panicked Tottenham went on a general offensive. In the 22nd minute, the West Ham defence cleared Madison's cross just before Johnson was about to header it. In the 25th minute, Porro attempted a mid-range shot, but was out after being defensively hit. Son Heung-min had a chance at the corner kick that followed. Son Heung-min caught the ball that came back and fired a powerful left-footed shot in front of the defense. He was out after getting hit by the defense.
27 min Tottenham missed a crucial chance. Son Heung-min was the starting point. Woo Do-ji crossed after overlapping the ball that Son Heung-min gave away. Just before getting hit in the head by Johnson, he came out after hitting the West Ham defender on the shoulder.
Tottenham's wave offensive continued. Solanke had a chance one after another, but it was a shame to finish. 33 min Madison's sharp ball connected to the prisoner who was a no-mark. Porro's shot deflected off the defense and headed sharply to the goal. Areola saved it nicely. Johnson aimed for a second ball, but Areola did not miss the ball.
35 min Tottenham equalised. Tottenham went on a counterattack after cutting off the ball. Madison gave it to Klusevski, who was on the right. Kulusevski moved to the center and attempted a strong shot with a near post. After being hit by Areola and hit by the right post, he hit the left post again and crossed the goal line.
Kulusevski, who received Son Heung-min's pass in the 39th minute, attempted to shoot from the left. This time, he came out after hitting the defense. In the 42nd minute, Kulusevski's sensational heel kick connected to Udo-gi, who was jumping in. U Do-ki crossed without delay, and the prisoner who was jumping in connected with a volley shot. It's a little off.
West Ham fought back. 45 min With West Ham on the counterattack, Paqueta tries a cross from the left. Kudus fired an acrobatic shot from the right. It came up. The first half ended 1-1. Son made 19 passes with 30 touches during the first half. created one opportunity. Shooting is number one. The dribble made one successful attempt twice, and the ground contest was also successful once.
Tottenham made the change first at the start of the second half. I put in Papesar without Madison. In the 6th minute of the second half, Tottenham turned the game around. Son Heung-min played a key role. Son Heung-min stabbed an exquisite pass to U Do-ki, who was digging in. U Do-ki caught him and turned his back and gave him back. Bissouma finished by jumping in.
West Ham fought back. In the 8th minute, Kudus dug in from the left to the center and tried to shoot. He got caught in the defensive wall. 9 min Tottenham scored their third goal. Captain Son Heung-min, who returned, was the main character. Son Heung-min intercepted the ball from the center circle and sent a great pass to Kulusevski, who was digging to the right. Kulusevski stabbed Son Heung-min, who was turning right. Son Heung-min hit a left footed shot. I got hit by the goalkeeper and went in after getting hit by Todibo. It was an own goal.
Unfortunately, Son Heung-min, who missed the return goal, opened the West Ham goal. In the 14th minute, Sarr's pass was connected to Son Heung-min on the left. Son Heung-min attempted a powerful left-footed shot after a great crossover with one defense in front of him in the counterattack. He hit the goalkeeper and shook the net as it was. Son Heung-min's third goal of the season. Son Heung-min will match Raheem Sterling and Dwight York's 123 goals with this goal. Along with them, Son Heung-min tied for 19th in EPLL history.
15 min Son Heung-min missed a crucial chance. When Solanke's through pass hit the West Ham defense, Son Heung-min, who was running in, took a perfect chance in front of the arc. The right footed shot came off the crossbar. 16 min Except Antonio, Paqueta and Soucek, put in Chrissencio Somerville, Carlos Soler and Edson Alvarez. Immediately, West Ham had a chance. Somerville's cutback from the left was connected to Kudus. Kudus' shot came off Udo-gi. It hit the ball, but the referee proceeded with the game.
Son Heung-min, who had been active for 25 minutes, came out after being replaced with a standing ovation. Timo Werner went in instead. West Ham also took out Rodriguez at the same time and put in Constantinos Mavropanos. West Ham's Qudus shot in the 27th minute and Alvarez shot in the 28th minute, but missed.
Tottenham also continued its offensive. Werner, who entered instead of Son Heung-min in the 31st minute, scored a header. It's off the mark. In the 36th minute, the prisoner's shot did not lead to a goal. Tottenham added Hisalisson and Rodrigo Bentancur without Solanke and Bissouma.
The 38-minute rough struggle tangled the two teams. In the process of Van der Penn taking the ball and coming up, Kudus made a rough foul. Kudus hit the pen and then bumped into other players. At first, only a warning was given, but the referee conducted an on-field review. It eventually turned into a red card.
Tottenham took out the Udo flag in the 43rd minute and put in Archie Gray. Seven minutes of extra time followed. No more goals were scored, and the game ended with Tottenham's 4-1 victory.
vanbasten@sportschosun.com
