Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 141



Only Krnovel

=======================================================

And the second half began.

As soon as the game started, Mexico started to press hard, unlike the first half.

It’s like, what is it, a feeling of being pulled up by force?

Forcing yourself to do something that doesn’t work.

How dare a country like Korea fight this hard against Mexico? I can’t forgive it! It was a reckless attack that made me feel like…

Of course, it was my subjective feeling.

If we continue like this and score a goal, then I guess I was wrong and Mexico was right.

Anyway, the outward appearance was that Mexico was going to swallow up Korea, so I was very nervous and adjusted my defensive spacing.

I’m a much younger kid (not even an adult yet) compared to the defenders, and they are much older and more experienced than me, but they actively accepted my shouts.

‘Coming.’

A quick ball transfer from the midfield to the opposing team with a long pass.

The wide midfielder receives the ball and heads it forward, where the striker receives it and quickly runs into the edge of the penalty box.

‘No, these!’

He passes the ball back inside after foolishly breaking through Seol Young-wook on the side. The player who had headed the ball earlier receives the ball again, and this time passes it to the striker.

It’s as natural as flowing water.

Even the world’s best Kim Min-je did not anticipate this attack and was overcome.

“Ugh!”

An attack coming right in.

The trajectory is coming right in.

Because the trajectory was to hit the far post, I flew before my opponent could even shoot.

With a thud, the opposing striker’s shot hits my fingertips and bounces out of the goal.

As soon as I blocked it, I got back up and prepared for the second attack that would follow, and luckily, the loose ball was caught by our fullback Kim Jin-seok and solved the problem by running forward.

“Phew.”

What a surprise. I almost got eaten.

“Our Minwoo is good at blocking Wiri!”

Kim Min-je hugged me tightly, his evil face showing through his eyes. I responded lightly.

“You saw it last time too, what is it?”

After sending Kim Min-je away, I looked ahead and saw the opposing attacker staring at me as if he was dumbfounded.

I scratched the back of my neck and spoke in English.

“Can I stay here forever?”

“No. I just wanted to tell you that you’re really good at blocking. That shot just now, you were the first person in my entire pro career to block a shot like that.”

To receive such recognition from the enemy. I felt embarrassed and ashamed, so I returned the favor with praise.

“You did well too. If it weren’t for me, you would have scored multiple goals today. It’s a shame.”

“What? Hahaha!”

And then he leaves.

The moment I turned around to leave, the guy turned his head again and asked me.

“Do you want to exchange uniforms after the game?”

“of course.”

“lol.”

And the Mexican striker is leaving.

Was his name Raul Jimenez?

I know he was a colleague of Hwang Hee-cheon’s until last year, but he has a cute side.

*

Mexico worked tirelessly to pull one goal back.

Realizing that the left side was a hidden hole, he focused his attacks on that side, but that also went in vain as Kim Min-je focused on defense.

And Korea changed its focus to defense due to the manager’s tactical change.

It’s clear that when we were in the locker room, we talked about being more aggressive and trying to score more goals, but it’s often the case that the coach’s tactical instructions become a blank slate less than three minutes into the game.

Jan from Hannover is like that, and Leon from the national team here is like that.

‘Anyway, if Mexico attacks so aggressively, they’ll eventually lose their strength.’

Above all, when Korea made up their mind and focused on defense, Mexico couldn’t break through.

At best, I could try to change the mood by hitting a mid-range shot, or somehow break through and shoot, but the former came in on a very obvious trajectory and I ended up blocking them all.

The latter.

“Oh my god!”

There’s a monster in our defense.

He has a fierce face and is big in stature, but he is a sweet man to his teammates.

Kim.

‘Come to think of it, our defense line has quite a few Kims, huh?’

First of all, I am Kim.

Kim Min-je is also Kim.

Kim Yang-kwon, Kim Jin-seok, and Kim Tae-hoon, who is a candidate for today’s game, are also Kim.

‘Is this what happens when you broadcast it overseas?’

[Kim’s been pierced! Now run! Kim blocks! Push past Kim, shoo-! Kim blocks!]

This is literally the shadow clone technique itself.

Kim gets through, Kim blocks, Kim gets pushed aside, and eventually Kim blocks.

The illusion itself.

For now.

“Nice Minje! Good job!”

Our Minje Ham did a great job, so I’ll give him a sticker.

It’s also nice to hear cheers from a goalkeeper who plays defense well.

In any case, all of Mexico’s attempts were unsuccessful.

Thanks to the dedication of countless colleagues, including myself, Min-je, and Yang-kwon Kim.

So now it was time to burn our stamina.

Korea began to gradually pressure Mexico as if it were the end of the first half, and now they have started to play a half-court game against Mexico.

How is this possible?

I thought about it for a moment, and there was only one answer.

‘That’s because you’re blocking all of your opponent’s moves, and your opponent is investing too many resources to make those moves successful.’

Here, Mexico’s resource was ultimately physical strength. In soccer, there is no resource more important than physical strength.

Mexico went overboard in their attempt to claw back a goal early in the second half, but their attempt ultimately proved unsuccessful.

So now the remaining time is······.

‘I guess I’ll have to get hit with as much stamina as I have.’

Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.

I know that player well.

It’s been ten years since he made a name for himself around the world by showing off an incredible show of saves at the World Cup in Brazil.

‘But it’s already been ten years.’

Ochoa was now thirty-nine years old, and at that age, Mexico was going through a dark period due to the lack of proper generational change.

I don’t know how long that veteran will last, but… Fighting.

Now all I have to do is watch my colleagues make Ochoa suffer and help them out if I can.

*

As the world’s assessment that Mexico was going through a dark period was true, Mexico was being pushed back by Korea.

Even though Mexico is evaluated as having failed in generational change and having extreme instability in performance, it was not in a position to be pushed back like this against Korea.

But the price for failing at Cheese Rush was harsh.

*Cheese Rush (a tactic where you take all your resources early and attack the enemy camp)

After missing three crucial scoring chances in a row and four decent chances, Mexico was left with a completely demoralized team.

Stamina can be improved to some extent by changing players, but the flow of defeat and the atmosphere of defeat could not be changed.

Above all, this was Sangam, the mecca of Korean soccer, and the spectators, who numbered well over 60,000, were still cheering enthusiastically.

in other words.

““Wowaaa …

Hwang Hee-cheon scored an additional goal.

The process for scoring an additional goal was simple.

Hong Hyun-sung passed a long ball from the side, and Hwang Hee-cheon hit the Mexican defenders who were loosely marking him.

As soon as the Mexican centre-back’s attempt to head the long ball was blocked, Hwang Hee-cheon received it with his chest and fired a shot into the Mexican goal.

“They say simple is best···.”

The national team has always been known to make things difficult and win easily, but it looks like things will change in the future.

The opponent won’t be able to score, but we will score a goal, whether it’s easy or difficult. Yes. We will score at least one goal during the 90 minutes…

And then time passed again and before we knew it, it was already the second 40 minutes.

“Ahh!”

Lee Kang-im, who had been continuing his attack with great momentum, fell to the ground.

When Mexico didn’t get their way, they started a physical altercation, and Lee Kang-im fell at a very delicate moment.

The referee also called a foul.

“That seat!”

24m away. Free kick zone facing the goal. This has to go!

I left the place in a hurry.

“Huh? Hey. Where are you going?”

Some of my teammates who didn’t know the details were shocked to see me suddenly jump out.

But it’s already been agreed upon.

I ran forward without paying attention to what anyone said.

***

“Nice!”

In fact, this was the first time in Kim Shin-ah’s life that she had watched a national team match in person.

So far, so good.

The match was tight and I was very happy that we ended up winning, and I was also satisfied with Kim Min-woo’s brilliant saves here and there during the game.

‘If it weren’t for my brother, I would have scored at least two goals.’

We probably conceded a goal as soon as the first half started, and we probably conceded a goal as soon as the second half started.

The rest could have been saved at the goalkeeper’s discretion, but I thought those two goals were a sure thing.

And now the score is 2:0.

I was so surprised by the great performance, and more than anything, when I watched the soccer game in person, I really liked the speed and cheering atmosphere.

We sang along to the folk song Arirang while holding up our phones like flashlights as if we were at a concert (our hearts were pounding so hard that we even took a video), and we also sang the Red Devils cheering song (Oh~ for victory). I think we did everything we could.

“This is why people come to watch the games.”

This is so great. An 11/10 game so far.

Then, Korea attacked again, but the opposing defense blocked it roughly and a foul was called.

Free kick from a good position.

Shin-A clapped her hands and looked forward to the upcoming free kick. The location was good and the distance was good, so she could expect an additional goal.

however.

“Huh? Honey. Look over there. Why is Minwoo running over there?”

“Huh? Really? Why is he doing that?”

Kim Shin-ah also perked up her ears at those words and turned her head toward the friendly camp with concentration.

Then, Kim Min-woo really came running.

“What? Why are you like that?”

Not only the family, but most of the audience were bewildered. Why are you suddenly acting like that? Do you need to take a dump?

And Kim Min-woo went to the free kick position and whispered something to Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-im.

and······.

“Eeeeek?!”

Kim Shin-ah doubted her eyes.

What’s with that stance? Is he going to take a free kick right now!?

“No, why are you like that!”

You have to use your true self to the best of your ability! What a disgrace that is!

Kim Shin-ah was already feeling dizzy. Just imagining how the community would treat her older brother made her feel dizzy.

The goalkeeper is greedy for goals, Son Heung-min is too kind to let that happen, Kim Min-woo is obsessed with playing the hero because the coach is too pushy, etc.

“Wow. What is that? Is Kim Min-woo trying to take a free kick? Why is he doing that?”

“Oh, that doesn’t seem right. What are they doing? Aren’t the coaches going to stop them?”

The people around were also in an uproar at this embarrassing scene.

Kim Shin-ah was so thirsty at this absurd situation that she opened the lid of the water she had bought in advance and drank it in gulps.

“Mom. Do you know why my brother acts like that?”

“Well, I don’t know either···.”

It’s a sudden action.

An unexpected action that even the mother who lives with me in Germany doesn’t know about.

Kim Shin-ah felt a mixture of anticipation and anxiety as she watched Kim Min-woo prepare to take a free kick.

‘The Kim Min-woo I know isn’t the kind of person who would do something crazy like that. Is there something, something going on?’

Like a promised play.

Or maybe you’re doing it because you’re really confident.

If it was something absurd, Son Heung-min would have stopped it.

But there is no sign of any gesture to stop it.

And then, three kickers took positions for one ball.

Son Heung-min. Lee Kang-im. And Kim Min-woo.

Beep─!

The referee’s whistle blows.

Kim Shin-ah unconsciously watched the free kick while tightly holding both hands.

Show me?

I don’t know what it is, but can you show me!?

And Kim Min-woo moves.

Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-im remain still, while Kim Min-woo moves.

Kim Min-woo’s movements were unstoppable.

He really kicked the ball with a light movement, like a free kick kicker.

‘Crazy! This is really cool!’

A shot that runs briskly towards the goal with a whoosh.

and······.

slam-!

“Whaaaaaah!”

“Gyaaaaaaah!”

“Ohhhhhhhhh!”

Got in!

Kim Min-woo took a free kick and scored a goal!

The crowd screams in colorful tones.

“what’s this!”

As soon as Kim Min-woo scored a goal, the stadium became noisy.

A completely unexpected situation. And a goal that went in.

Kim Min-woo must have been very happy, because he ran towards him and jumped with all his might, doing an uppercut in the air.

The score is 3 to 0!

Kim Shin-ah was dumbfounded, but decided to enjoy the situation for now.

“I don’t know what it is, but wow! My brother scored his debut goal in his debut match!”

A goalkeeper’s debut goal in his debut match.

It was Kim Min-woo who set an unprecedented record that will never be broken.

The 66,000 spectators also celebrated Kim Min-woo’s debut goal and rejoiced together.

Above all, the unusual situation of a goalkeeper scoring a goal made people even more delighted and surprised.

‘The community is going to explode again.’

When it comes to soccer, you can never be doubtful.

Just… it’s you again, “GOAT”.

End

ⓒ Doctor Am