Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 187
Only Krnovel
187 Stand up straight Hassan
North and Central America World Cup 3rd qualifying round.
South Korea vs Jordan.
Even in a match held at South Korea’s home ground, there is an overwhelming difference in power.
This is a match that anyone but a crazy person would have predicted would be won by South Korea, but today’s match was somehow frustrating.
It was clear to Kim Shin-ah’s eyes.
[Yang Hyun-goo, Yang Hyun-goo! This is your one-man chance!]
[Here, here! Oh, oh, oh! The goalkeeper is blocking it!]
It was a crazy pass from Son Heung-min, who ran alone down the flank and passed two or three Jordanian players comically before piercing the ball into the penalty box.
If a goal was scored, the percentage would have been 0.9 for Son Heung-min and 0.1 for Yang Hyun-goo, which is an overwhelming performance.
However, Yang Hyun-goo, who had a solo chance, hesitated for a moment and failed to take the shot, but the ball was blocked by the goalkeeper and lost to him.
“No, I can’t put that in!”
If Teuchert had been there, it would have been a goal! If Daniel Becker had been there, he would have even beaten the goalkeeper!
In a critical situation, Yang Hyun-goo, who couldn’t even shoot properly, was smiling like an idiot and sending a thumbs-up to Son Heung-min. It was so absurd that I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Wow. That kid. Wow… .”
They say that those who smile when things get tough are first-class. They’re really amazing!
[Okay, after the step over, Son Heung-min! The space has opened up!]
[Shoooooooooooooo! Aaaah! It went too far to the center!]
[A powerful mid-range shot that goes straight at the goalkeeper, but unfortunately gets blocked!]
Although they missed a crucial situation, such crucial situations keep coming up for South Korea. To be exact, it was the result of the players’ efforts.
Against Jordan, who was sitting down openly, South Korea continued to threaten the goal by dribbling through or attempting mid-range shots.
But that’s the most important thing in soccer.
No scoring occurred.
[Lee Kang-im! Looking back!]
[The defense is too thick. There is no place to give.]
[I keep trying mid-range shots, but they aren’t very accurate.]
In Kim Shin-ah’s eyes, it all seemed to be happening because the top striker’s influence was weak.
And, this is just a feeling, but it feels like the national team players don’t give the ball to the top striker, Yang Hyun-goo?
‘I don’t know if he doesn’t trust his players or if it’s his job to draw the aggro of the Jordanian defenders by moving around the front like that…’
It’s unclear exactly what role the striker plays for the national team, but so far it doesn’t appear he’s been doing a great job.
Kim Shin-ah, who has watched countless Hannover matches and has a keen interest in soccer, thought so.
[Oh, oh, oh, this is dangerous!]
And the wide defender’s miss in ball control.
Even though they were getting hit, the Jordanian players did not miss South Korea’s critical mistakes.
The space inside the penalty box was wide open, and the national team defenders rushed to block the shooting opportunity.
“Eeeeeeeet!?”
Kim Shin-ah, who was watching, jumped up and screamed, but fortunately, it ended as a happening.
Who is our goalkeeper?
It’s Kim Min-woo~
“Phew.”
And even if it weren’t for Kim Min-woo, the Jordanian striker would have missed the opportunity by hitting the side netting in that situation, perhaps because of his poor condition.
“Ah. This is really….”
It feels like watching a Hannover match?
To be exact, it feels like watching from the perspective of the teams facing Hannover.
The game is overwhelming but no goals are scored.
That went on throughout the entire first half.
And in the 44th minute of the first half, which might have been the last chance in the first half.
It was Lee Kang-im and Son Heung-min.
Lee Kang-im uses his signature dribbling to get past a player who was marking him and passes the ball directly to Son Heung-min, who is running into space.
And Son Heung-min’s shot inside the penalty box.
This time I really thought it was a goal, but it was blocked.
[Eww, this is it!]
[What’s wrong with Jordan’s goalkeeper today! Did Kim Min-woo get possessed?]
[Hassan Abulailah, who is becoming the Jordanian Kim Min-woo in today’s match! Blocking all of South Korea’s attacks!]
“Oh my. This doesn’t make sense.”
I sighed.
The Jordan players were now almost intentionally leaving Yang Hyun-goo alone.
Just now, there were no defenders in the position where Yang Hyun-goo was, and there were four or five near Son Heung-min.
It’s only been 45 minutes, but they’ve already figured it out. Who’s the hole?
“Dad. Did you see it?”
“Huh?”
Today’s game was watched on TV at home while eating chicken. Kim Shin-ah was talking passionately while looking at her father who was holding a chicken leg.
“This doesn’t make sense! There should be at least two defenders near our attacker, but there aren’t any! That’s why Son Heung-min couldn’t score! There are too many defenders! Why would that be?”
“……ok?”
“Whenever that lone striker gets a chance to attack, the flow is interrupted and he can’t score properly! Oh my, it’s so frustrating to watch. I think my brother would do better as a lone striker than that!”
“That is true.”
Dad nodded and ate the remaining chicken. Shin-ah felt annoyed for no reason.
“Is the chicken going down your throat right now?”
“It goes in very well?”
“…Then let me have a bite too.”
And then the corner kick.
Lee Kang-im kicks the ball, and Son Heung-min turns and runs, then puts his head on the ball.
Then… … .
[Son Hong-mi, hehehehehehehe!]
[Finally, let’s go in! The collaboration between Lee Kang-im and Son Heung-min! Putting an end to the frustrating match!]
South Korea finally scored the first goal, but it wasn’t a very pleasant goal. It felt like the aces had to twist their whole bodies to score it.
Our neighboring country, Japan, just scores goals among themselves, so why is it so hard for us to score?
‘That’s because the main attackers are suffering from injuries. There’s nothing a team with weak depth can do.’
It is the sorrow of a country with weak depth.
When will we ever see players like those in other countries, not only as starters but also as bench players who are guaranteed to be starters when they go to another country? Will that day ever come in my lifetime?
“I watch it because my real teammate is my older brother. If not, I would have already changed the channel.”
“Weren’t you watching it because you didn’t want to study?”
“If you didn’t want to study, just go and see for yourself.”
The reason why I’m watching it at home today.
Anyway, Jordan will win in the South Korean weight class.
Since the UAE lost in the away game, I plan to watch the UAE game in person.
* * *
After the first half, we returned to the locker room. The national team players expressed their disappointment at not scoring a goal, but the atmosphere was not bad.
Because we’re leading 1:0 for now.
But I saw the director’s expression.
He looked like he wasn’t happy with the situation at all.
‘Today, to be honest, I couldn’t say that Yang Hyun-goo was in good form.’
As everyone’s eyes are similar, Leon explains how the game should be played in the second half and calls Junyoung Kim, who was huddled in a corner.
“Kim!”
“Yes, Director! I’m here!”
Leon muttered a few words. Then the interpreter shouted out loud in Korean.
“Player Kim Jun-young will be substituted in for player Yang Hyeon-gu at the start of the second half. Do you understand?”
“……all right!”
Kim Jun-young answered in a trembling voice, as if he had never thought that the opportunity would really come.
‘Why aren’t you putting Son Heung-min at the top?’
Is this a strategy based on the judgment that since we are ahead by one point and I am the goalkeeper, we won’t concede a goal?
So, should we try experimenting with Kim Jun-young this time?
Unless he can create a special scene, it will be difficult to see Kim Jun-young again on the national team after his debut match.
You will have to work hard for a long time and be recognized for your skills before you can re-enter.
“Don’t be nervous. Just do what you usually do in the club team, and your teammates will take care of the rest. Do you understand?”
“Yes, yes! I will do that!”
Kim Jun-young nodded like a private with a sharp mind. The seniors from the national team all joked about how cute he looked.
“Junyoung, relax. It’s nothing. It’s just your usual soccer game.”
A word from Captain Son. Kim Jun-young nodded vigorously.
And Lee Kang-im adds.
“Shall we take a look at our rookie’s skills? Honestly, I’m really excited since he went to the same high school as Minwoo and even played together with him~?”
“… … I will do my best!”
Lee Kang-im laughs and waves his hand at the overly nervous Kim Jun-young.
“I’m joking~ You don’t have to do it~ Just don’t watch it next time~”
“……ah.”
I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to show my true abilities, so I intervened.
“Stop teasing me. It’s your debut day anyway. Don’t say you have to do well, and just do what you did on your team. Got it?”
“yes yes!”
“Wow~ The appearance of the next captain!”
“How can I be the next captain when there are so many people above me…?”
“Huh? You’ve been sucking all the players’ popularity out of them lately?”
“… … ?”
And Lee Kang-im’s TMI.
The popularity that was given equally to the national team players (mostly to Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-im, to be exact) is now being focused on me.
Not only is his skill good, but his mask is also great and there are no dating rumors… .
And Lee Kang-im asks slyly.
“Are you a coward? Don’t you want to be in a relationship?”
“… … .”
That’s because I have a slightly ambiguous relationship with someone.
Of course I couldn’t say anything.
I tried to gloss over it by saying that we should just focus on the game now.
Just before leaving the locker room,
“Brother. The moment I’ve been waiting for has finally come. I’ll really do my best!”
Kim Jun-young’s sudden monologue.
I blinked and shook my head.
“Give up your determination to do well. Just do as you usually do. Be bold when it’s time to be bold, and be careful when it’s time to be cautious.”
There are players who miss many big chances because of the pressure of the game.
In his debut match for the national team, I wish Kim Jun-young hadn’t done that while the coach was watching him. I think he would have been really disappointed if he had.
* * *
[… … Oh, and as soon as the second half started, a player was substituted. Yang Hyun-goo was out and Kim Jun-young was in!]
[Oh, this player was selected as a replacement due to injuries to the main attackers. He is a very young player. One thing that is special about him is that he is from the same Suyang High School as Kim Min-woo, and they played together on the soccer team.]
[Ah! He was the player from Suyang High School’s soccer team that swept many competitions with Kim Min-woo!]
“Hmm?”
Kim Shin-ah, who had been concentrating on the chicken for a while, looked at the TV at the commentary.
Then, the face of a young player appeared on the broadcast screen. The player was looking around with a nervous expression.
“Oh! That guy is that guy from back then!”
I clearly remember him. He was one of the players I liked to score goals with during my time at Suyang High School.
Wow. Are you saying that player made it to the national team?
And the game begins.
The second half against Jordan went largely similar to the first half.
Korea was not a team that would be satisfied with scoring just one goal against Jordan, and they pressed on like a storm in the second half just as much as they did in the first half.
[Okay, I like this scene, Lee Kang-im!]
[Lee Kang-im takes off three people!]
“Wow, what is it?”
Lee Kang-im shook off a Jordanian player who was hanging on to his uniform, dodged a Jordanian player who was trying to tackle him, and even shook off a Jordanian player who was holding onto his shoulder before finally making his way into the penalty box and passing the ball to the periphery.
Hong Hyun-seong received it, but his first touch was like shit and was blocked by Jordan.
“Ah. As expected.”
Well then, that’s right.
PSG dribble, PSG pass, and K-League touch. Huh? Not K-League?
“Gent? Which team is attached to it?”
The commentators also pointed out Hong Hyun-seong’s regrettable touch, and the father who was eating chicken also shook his head and clicked his tongue.
And then, without a moment to catch their breath, Korea’s attacks continue.
Hwang Hee-cheon received a pass into space and ran forward.
Hwang Hee-cheon, who entered the penalty box in an instant, sends a cross slightly toward the center, and Kim Jun-young, who was on the other side, reacts.
[Ooo …
[Kim Jun-young ‘unlocks’ Jordan’s goal with a slight push! It’s a goal!]
It was a goal.
It was so easy to get through that I wondered if it could be done so easily.
Kim Jun-young jumped up and kicked the ball with his right foot, scoring a goal.
“Hey~ Good job! Do this in the first half too.”
Dad’s one-line comment.
“No, how can a K-League player be better than players in Europe?”
Kim Shin-ah’s one-line review.
[Debut match, debut goal! Kim Jun-young scores as soon as the second half starts!]
[Hahaha, Junyoung Kim is calm, but the players around him are making more of a fuss.]
Kim Jun-young looks more dazed than calm.
In particular, Lee Kang-im liked it the most.
I could only see his expression, but it felt like he was saying, “Look at this guy.”
[It was really easy to get in and out. This is the national team we were hoping for.]
[And if you look, he seemed to kick with his left foot, but then switched and kicked with his right foot. The fake went in well. Even Hassan Abulaila, who was possessed by Kim Min-woo, had no choice but to release his possession for a moment!]
[Yes. That goal just now was a shot that only Kim Min-woo could have blocked. Haha.]
“Heh heh. Stand up straight, Hassan.”
Score 2:0.
And, I have a feeling that the festival is about to start. Seeing them score a goal so easily right at the start of the second half, it feels like it’s going to keep going strong.
And as Kim Min-woo passed by, he appeared on the screen, and Director Kim nodded with a satisfied expression, as if he was quite satisfied with the scene just now.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
