'I am the captain of the Republic of Korea' Son Heung-min scored his 50th A-match goal, 'Legend' alongside Hwang Sun-hong
Nov 14, 2024
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South Korea's national soccer team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, is playing the fifth Group B match against Kuwait at the Jabeur Al Ahmed International Stadium in Kuwait City, Kuwait, at 11 p.m. on the 14th (Korea time).
The key player of the day was definitely Son Heung-min. He has scored 49 goals in 129 A matches since his debut with the A national team in 2010. If he added one more goal, he would be on par with Hwang Sun-hong (50 goals), who ranks second in all A-match scores for the Korean national team. Cha Bum-kun (58 goals) is ranked first in his career.
There was a variable. Son Heung-min recently battled an injury. He was injured in his team's game on September 27. I felt an abnormality in my right thigh. He also failed to join the A-match in October. Son focused on his recovery. He returned in good health. He started in the English Premier League (EPL) home game against West Ham on the 19th of last month. It was his first return to injury in four games. He played the ground for 70 minutes and performed 'one-man show'. Son Heung-min showed his best performance, including a return goal and inducing one earned goal. took the lead in the team's 4-1 complete victory. After the game, Son Heung-min was selected as the MOM (Man of the Match) with an overwhelming 51.9% support.
There is a problem. Son Heung-min left due to a recurrence of injury. Son Heung-min, who returned, played for 55 minutes and 45 minutes and went on to 'Management'. In the end, Tottenham manager Enze Postecoglou "The Korean national team is figuring out what Son Heung-min has been through recently. I think there will be a way for both sides to cooperate for both our team and the national team. We want a healthy Son Heung-min. I hope Son Heung-min will keep himself in good shape and contribute to each team. In that context, I'm sure both Tottenham and Hong Myung-bo will get good results." However, contrary to what he said, Postecoglou used Son Heung-min full-time in his last game before the A-match break in November.
The lid has been opened. South Korea came up with a 4-2-3-1 tactic. Oh Se-hoon (Machida Zelvia) stepped up as the front-line striker. Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) formed the second line. Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) and Park Yong-woo (Al Ain) joined the defensive midfielders. Lee Myung-jae (Ulsan), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Cho Yoo-min (Sharja) and Seol Young-woo (Zvezda) were in charge of defense. Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan) defended the goal.
Korea has taken the lead. The first goal came in the 10th minute of the first half when the game was 0-0. Oh Se-hoon shook Kuwait's net with a surprise header from Hwang In-beom's cross. Just two minutes later, Oh Se-hoon scored an additional goal. However, the score was canceled because a foul was declared in the previous situation.
Son Heung-min stepped up. In the 17th minute of the first half, Son Heung-min was knocked down by an opponent's foul in the process of breaking through the opponent's side. The referee immediately blew the whistle and declared a penalty. Son Heung-min scored his 50th A-match as a kicker. South Korea leads 2-0.
Meanwhile, South Korea is ranked first in the group with three wins and one draw (10 points) in the previous four games. If South Korea wins on the day, it will cross the 'Seventh Ridge' of advancing to the World Cup finals.
epi17@sportschosun.com
