The big win against Kuwait didn’t just give Hwang Sun-hong three points. The biggest gift is confidence. Before the lid was lifted, there was a lot of worry for Hwang Sun-hong-ho. He hadn’t really gotten his feet wet, and his ace, Lee Kang-in (PSG), was a late addition. Above all, the front line and ‘wild card’ presence was weak.
Korean soccer has won back-to-back gold medals at the last two Asian Games thanks to the power of a solid striker and a reliable wildcard. Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Hwang Eui-jo (Norwich City), Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Seung-kyu (Al-Shabab), and Park Joo-ho (retired) have been solid anchors.
However, this tournament was different, and there were concerns about the weakest ‘attacking lineup + wild card’ ever. The front line included Park Jae-yong (Jeonbuk Hyundai) and Ahn Jae-joon (Bucheon FC), who were unproven in the K League 1. There was Cho Young-wook (Gimcheon Commerce), but he was also considered weak. The wild card was Baek Seung-ho (Jeonbuk), but he hasn’t been playing well lately. Park Jin-seop (Jeonbuk) and Seol Young-woo (Ulsan) are unproven at the international level. Park has never played for the A team before.
The Asian Games is not an easy stage. Due to the military service exemption, the Koreans were at full strength every time they went for gold, but they couldn’t get over the hump. They have often struggled against the extreme defenses of their opponents, which is why it’s important to have a special attacker who can break through and a wildcard who can hold the team together in crunch time. This is why Hwang Sun-hong, who will be trying to win his third consecutive Asian Games, has been a cause for concern.
But he put those fears to rest against Kuwait. Cho Young-wook scored a hat-trick, while second-half substitute Park Jae-yong and Ahn Jae-joon found the back of the net. Baek Seung-ho anchored the defense as a defensive midfielder and scored a fantastic free-kick goal. Park Jin-seop also showed off his steady defense. Seol Young-woo, who came on as a second-half substitute in the aftermath of the Europe A match, also picked up an assist.
Especially for Park Jae-yong, Ahn Jae-joon, and Park Jin-seop, who have never played for the national team before, it was a great confidence booster from the first game. They have laid the groundwork to play with confidence and showcase their skills in the future. It also gave Hwang, who had been limited in his options when Ahn Jae-joon’s silence was prolonged and Park Jin-seop was unable to anchor the defense, more room to maneuver. The 9-0 win over Kuwait in the men’s soccer group stage of the Hangzhou Asian Games on Aug. 19 was a significant victory for Hwang. 카지노
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