Captain Son Heung-min, who failed to laugh even after being selected as MOM, broke the record of 'the most goals in a single year + 51st goals in Tongsan'
Nov 20, 2024
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Hong Myung-bo drew 1-1 after a rough match in Group B 6 of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup against Palestine at Amman Stadium in Jordan on the 19th. South Korea, which dedicated the first goal to Kim Min-jae's fatal back pass miss in the 12th minute of the first half, quickly returned the game to square one with Son Heung-min's equalizer in the 16th minute of the first half, but failed to score additional points for the remaining 80 minutes, securing only one point.
In September, it was revealed that the helpless 0-0 draw against Palestine in the first leg of the third qualifying round, which was Hong Myung-bo's second A national team head coach debut, was not a secondary factor such as booing from home fans. South Korea struggled under pressure from well-built Palestinian players throughout the entire 90 minutes. His concentration and breathing were so different from the fifth game of the third qualifying round against Kuwait on the 14th, when he won 3-1. Commentator Lee Young-pyo, a former representative player, even commented "It's a hard game to watch."
Son Heung-min's score was almost the only scene that gave a cool feeling in the stuffy 90 minutes game. Son Heung-min was handed a three-way pass leading to Lee Myung-jae and Lee Jae-sung and cut the net with a right-footed shot aimed at the lower right of the goal near the left side of the opponent's goal area. Son Heung-min, who scored his 50th goal through a penalty kick in the last match against Kuwait, scored his second consecutive goal and 10th A-match goals (15 games) this year.
As a result, Son Heung-min broke the record of most goals scored in a single year's individual A-match, exceeding nine goals (12 games) set in 2015. It's a remarkable record given the age of 32. He scored seven goals in the second and third qualifying rounds for the World Cup, leading Qatar's Almoez Ali in scoring. He also jumped to second place in the A-match scoring standings alone, beating Hwang Sun-hong (50 goals) with his 51st goal in the A-match. The gap between Cha Bum-kun and Cha Bum-kun (58 goals) has now been narrowed to seven goals. At the current pace, it can be renewed next year.
However, Son Heung-min couldn't smile coolly, perhaps because of his team's lethargic draw, even though he held a commemorative plaque for the most valuable player of the game. Son Heung-min said in a broadcast interview after the game that "Our mistake led the game to a difficult time. If I had connected the chance to a goal, I could have won, but that's a shame. I want to applaud the Palestinians for their hard work in a difficult situation," he said. Son Heung-min, who looked back on an eventful year, said, `A lot of things have happened since the Asian Cup. There was a lack of 2-3 percent and 10 percent. Next year, I hope we can unite to make a special year for the players as well as for the fans to be happy."
yoonjinman@sportschosun.com
