Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 140



Only Krnovel

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The first A-match held in Korea was different in another sense.

‘A giant Taegeukgi. A red devil. And···.’

From cheering songs that make the hairs on your body stand on end to the baptism of firefly-like cell phone flashes.

[Arirang~ Arariyo~ Arirang goes over the hill~]

[The one who leaves me will get sick before he can even go ten miles]

It was a folk song that we often heard during music classes at school, but the sight of over 60,000 people singing along in unison while flashing their cell phone flashlights reminded me of the entrance to heaven.

‘It’s so magnificent that I can’t defend it.’

I had to focus on the game, but it was hard to do so when I was reading the jaw-dropping atmosphere in the stadium.

Even I, who guards the goal, am like this, so it must be worse for the players running around the field.

“Minwoo!”

During the build-up, Kim Min-je passed the ball back to me. I received the ball lightly and observed the surroundings.

The Mexican players don’t press aggressively, but rather run towards me in a leisurely manner.

I leisurely observed the surroundings and then burst into laughter.

There was no place to give it to.

Then, Lee Kang-im and the Mexican player fought over the right to serve, and Lee Kang-im, who won the fight, actively took the lead in the attack by putting pressure on the surrounding players who were clinging to him.

““Woooooooo-!””

The roar of the crowd.

This match against Mexico.

The match was a close one.

Except for one major crisis that arose right at the start of the game, the game was going smoothly without any special circumstances.

Stealing the ball and being stolen from.

It looks like calm waves, but hidden within is a fierce battle for dominance.

I was loitering around the goal, observing the situation, but the crowd was the first thing that caught my eye, rather than the game itself.

There was no choice.

How can you not pay attention when over 60,000 spectators turn on the flashlights on their cell phones and sing Arirang?

‘I want to show you something, but I don’t have the chance.’

Except for one threat that came very early in the game, there weren’t any major events, so it was average from my perspective.

Moreover, the two center backs were Bundesliga powerhouse Kim Min-je and K-League veteran Kim Yang-kwon, so there was even less pressure.

Clap clap clap clap-!

It seemed like Korea had a chance to shoot at that moment. The audience gave a mixed response of applause and sighs of regret.

I scratched my forehead as I watched.

‘It’s definitely a good thing that I’m not showing up···.’

Actually, I feel sad because I have nothing to do.

Is it because it’s the adult representative debut match?

If this had happened in Hanover, I would have been dizzy at the thought of eating my annual salary.

***

Kim Min-je actively participated in the attack.

It was my own judgment, and the director’s approval also helped with this decision.

From the beginning, Kim Min-je had decided that once Kim Min-woo joined the national team, he would actively participate in the attack like he did in his time at Napoli.

‘It’s nice to be out and about after a long time.’

Since moving to Munich, he has rarely participated in attacks due to tactical issues.

Likewise with the national team, he was unable to be as active as he was during his time at Napoli due to the defensive gaps that resulted from his involvement in the attack.

but.

‘It’s different now.’

This is our goalkeeper Kim Min-woo.

It all boils down to this.

Of course, if you join an attack and are counterattacked, you have to run at full speed and get back quickly, but it’s definitely not like before where you go, ‘Oh, I’m screwed!’

Our Minwoo, who is my junior in the Bundesliga, is crazy about defense.

Especially since he’s a crazy guy who’s really good at blocking 1-on-1s.

‘Kim Min-woo is behind me, so I’m worried.’

It was the same even now.

Kim Min-je had been actively attacking and beating up Mexico until just a moment ago, but the counterattack situation that we were worried about occurred.

‘Let’s die!’

Kim Min-je clenched his teeth and chased after his opponent with all his might, as if a crazy serial killer with a chainsaw was chasing him from behind.

With full force. Without rest. Continuously.

Then he caught up with the opposing attacker, and as soon as the attacker shot, he extended his left foot and blocked the angle of the shot.

The shot hits Kim Min-je’s foot and is twisted at a completely different angle before flying out of the goal line, causing the crowd to roar with excitement and applause.

‘Oh my god, I’m dying.’

I definitely feel the acid reflux coming up.

I felt the bitter taste of life in my lungs, and it was so hard that I spat a lot.

I trust Kim Min-woo, but it would be much better to cover him if he can.

“Whew! Whoa! Keuk!”

“brother.”

When he raised his head, it was Kim Min-woo. Kim Min-woo put his hand on Kim Min-je’s shoulder and looked at him with eyes of admiration.

“I’m really touched. I am trusting. Really.”

“Why? Gasp. Hanover doesn’t have a defender like this? Hehe.”

“If you were here, I would have carried you, hyung. You’re like defender Son Heung-min.”

“Kuuuu. Hey. Hyung, it’s hard. Don’t try to make me laugh. Get ready for a corner kick. Kuuu.”

“Yes, brother.”

And then the corner kick.

Kim Min-je, who won the header, sent the ball far out.

The tiresome battle for dominance continues again.

Kim Min-je jumped forward to join the attack again.

Subiya, our Minwoo will take care of it.

***

There are 4 days left until the day when Korean soccer reaches a crossroads.

Just before the Korea-Japan war of destruction unfolds in Tokyo, Korea warms up against Mexico at home before heading to Japan.

And now.

“Hwang Hee-cheon is running along the side!”

“Ah, but it gets blocked by the opposing defense.”

Choi Jun-ho and Park Jun-seo, casters and commentators in charge of broadcasting the Mexico match and who work in the soccer industry, checked Korea’s performance with trembling hearts.

“I don’t think we need to be conscious of it, but Japan won 3:1 at home against Uruguay. The next game is at Japan’s home, so we absolutely need to win this game.”

To put it nicely, it’s a close match.

To put it badly, it’s half-hearted.

More than 30 minutes had passed in the first half, but neither Korea nor Mexico had scored a goal yet, continuing a fierce back-and-forth battle.

And the replay scene shown.

“Ah. It was the save that Kim Min-woo showed at the beginning of the game, right?”

“Wow, it’s still amazing even when I look at it again. An unmarked chance. In fact, any good goalkeeper would have definitely succeeded here.”

Mexico’s goal chance as soon as the game starts.

Due to the chaotic atmosphere, they almost started off with a goal, but Kim Min-woo did not allow it.

And since then, the game has been in a lull.

I hope we get a meaningful score, but it’s still a long way off.

Similar situations kept occurring.

“There are still frequent fights going on where Hwang Hee-cheon is. Does it seem intentional?”

“I’m going to try to poke holes in the opponent’s body, and Hwang Hee-cheon is in top form right now. Okay! I’ll stab you in the face the moment you say that!”

On the flank, Hwang Hee-cheon and Lee Ja-seong were passing the ball back and forth, and Hwang Hee-cheon passed the ball into the open space.

It was a pass into the penalty box, and Lee Kang-Im ran towards it without missing a beat.

“Lee Kang-im is running! Shoot!”

But the ball bounced off the player’s leg.

But things weren’t over yet.

Son Heung-min caught the loose ball that bounced away, and although the angle wasn’t right, he hit it anyway.

Son Heung-min’s shot towards the goal hit the opposing center back’s leg, and as if he had planned it, the ball hit the leg and bounced off the net.

“Hey, Son Heung-min! Aaaah! I got hit!”

“César Montes hits the grass! But the ball goes in! Oh, does that mean it’s an own goal?”

“Actually, it was a shot with no angle! Son Heung-min aimed accurately for the opponent’s own goal, and his intention worked perfectly, leading to South Korea scoring the first goal!”

Son Heung-min and his teammates running towards the fans and embracing him.

The relay team looked at the scene with pleasure.

The audience of over 60,000 people also cheered and screamed in equal measure.

“Ah. Ochoa’s expression is not good. But there is nothing we can do about a shot that goes in after being intercepted by a teammate. Oliver Kahn famously said that a goal is the fault of a defender, but the situation just now was really the fault of a defender.”

“Yes. I wonder what would have happened if the goalkeeper had been Kim Min-woo in the same situation. Would Kim Min-woo have stopped it?”

“Yes. Of course I would have stopped Kim Min-woo. What are you talking about now···”

“Ahaha! Yes, that was commentator Park Jun-seo who just now became serious.”

The flow of the first half was similar to the previous one, but Korea was able to take the lead and finish the first half with a bit more initiative.

Kim Min-woo, who had high expectations for his debut with the senior national team, has had a weak presence so far, except for one scene in the very beginning.

“There’s still the second half left, and I personally think it’s a blessing that Kim Min-woo isn’t playing well against Mexico, a powerhouse. In fact, the less Kim Min-woo appears on screen, the better.”

“Yes. If Kim Min-woo is caught on screen, it means that South Korea is in crisis. In fact, Kim Min-woo is the final restraint on the road to defeat.”

“First of all, our players did a great job in the first 45 minutes against Mexico. I hope they will do as well in the remaining second half!”

And then the screen broadcast ends and an advertisement starts. The two commentators sigh and take off their microphones.

“They’re better than I thought. We’re going to win. We’re going to win big.”

Choi Jun-ho nodded at Park Jun-seo’s words.

“Oh! I thought it would be a draw at worst, but Hongmin scored a goal, so the win was confirmed.”

“Ah. Are you saying that Mexico will never score because their goalkeeper is Kim Min-woo?”

“If Munich couldn’t even make it, how can Mexico make it?”

Park Jun-seo nodded his head with a silent smile. And then he added.

“And your performance is also great. No, you should have done this a long time ago. You should have eaten all the hate you deserve and done well.”

Hehehe, the two commentators are laughing.

“But what will happen to the Japan match?”

“Japan has a lot of variables. But if you think about the last Asian Cup, it seems like it’ll be really intense, but don’t you think we’ll win 1:0?”

“yes?”

“For now. Because Kim Min-woo is here too.”

It looks sturdy just by looking at it.

As if it would never fall down.

Park Jun-seo thought for a moment and then said.

“Perhaps, the day Kim Min-woo concedes a goal, the whole world will be in an uproar. That day will definitely come.”

“You’ve been like that since Suyang High School, but now you’re completely in love with Kim Min-woo?”

“Who among the people who watch soccer in Korea doesn’t do that? These days, everyone is like that.”

Park Jun-seo and Choi Jun-ho looked at each other and smiled before heading to the bathroom together. They drank too much water because they were thirsty.

***

The atmosphere in the locker room at half-time was quite good, perhaps because it was the best performance since Leon Harpers took over.

No, it was good.

First, the score was 1-0, and the match was tight, but in the last 10 minutes, Korea was slightly ahead of Mexico.

However, Leon asked his players to remain calm as he wanted something certain and informed them of the new tactics they would be introducing in the second half as there was still half a game left.

The current tactics have been supplemented and changed by about 1.5 spoons.

The goalkeeper didn’t have to worry about it, so I drank some water and thought about the second half.

‘There has to be a free kick. Then I can step up for the free kick that may come up in the match against Japan.’

If there is no free kick aimed at the opponent’s goal in the second half, my chance to show off my free kick will be very far away.

Also, if you want to start in Hannover, you have to start with a practice match, and although the practice match in Hannover is fierce enough to resemble a real match, you never know if there will be a free kick or not.

‘I need to drink it once···.’

The only way I can kick, skipping the reliable kickers like Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-im, is to prove it in the end.

If an opportunity is created and you take advantage of that opportunity to score a goal, people will have no choice but to acknowledge it, even if they don’t want to.

As I was quietly thinking, someone tapped me on the shoulder.

When I raised my head, it was Captain Son.

“What’s wrong? You don’t look so good.”

“Ah. No.”

“No, really. Are you saying that because of the free kick?”

You hit the nail on the head.

When I couldn’t say anything, Son Heung-min snickered and tilted his head.

“Are you sure about that? No matter how much I think about it, the goalkeeper kicks the free kick… Hmm.”

“So I want to show you this time. Once you kick it, 90% of it will go in.”

“Is that it? This time, if we get a free kick opportunity, we really have to give Minwoo a chance. But what if he fails?”

“At that time······ I have to run really hard.”

I have to run all the way to the goal in ‘Walk, save me’ mode. What other way is there?

At my words, Son Heung-min burst into laughter, captivated by the absurdity and charm of honesty.

“Okay. Show me. I trust you.”

Son Heung-min pats my head and returns to his seat.

Even Son Heung-min, who has been through a lot, is looking at me with suspicion, so it is clear that anyone who does not trust me 100% would try to stop me from taking a free kick.

‘please.’

So, we have to show it.

Definitely this time.

If you just do that······.

‘The ransom increased fivefold.’

If I had just become a free kick taker, I would have made a splash in the football world and would have had my face on the front page of newspapers all over the world.

As a goalkeeper who scores goals.

End

ⓒ Doctor Am