Hwang Hee-chan (27), striker of the national soccer team, showed his presence by scoring his first goal this season. It was the first time in 11 months since February of last year that he tasted a goal wearing his team uniform.
Hwang Hee-chan scored an equalizer in the 21st minute of the second half after trailing 1-2 in the 2022-23 season England Football Association (FA) 3rd round (round of 64) against Liverpool held at Anfield in Liverpool, England on the 8th (Korean time). It was only 3 minutes after he was put on the ground as a substitute card in the 18th minute of the second half.
I have a clear memory of scoring a goal that led Korea to advance to the round of 16 against Portugal in the Qatar World Cup finals, but Hwang Hee-chan seldom scored a goal in Wolverhampton. It was the first time in 11 months since the Premier League match against Arsenal in February of last year that he tasted the goal.
After scoring the opening goal and conceding consecutive runs and turning the score 1-2, coach Lopetegui put weight on the attack by replacing three players at once, including Hwang Hee-chan, in the 18th minute of the second half. And this choice paid off. Three minutes later, Hwang Hee-chan and transfer student Matheus Cunya jointly scored and tied the score.
Hwang Hee-chan, who received the ball in midfield, tried to break through the dribble in front of Liverpool’s goal, handed the ball to Kunya near the arc, and rushed to the goal. Kunya, who received the ball from the left flank, read Hee-chan Hwang’s movement and attempted a ground ball return pass, and Hee-chan Hwang threw himself and attempted a shot. The ball got caught in the foot of Liverpool center back Konate, then hit Hwang Hee-chan and refracted into the goal. Hwang Hee-chan’s first goal this season.
In the 36th minute of the second half, Hwang Hee-chan’s pass was linked with a shot by teammate Totti Gomes, who almost scored a come-from-behind goal, but the goal was disallowed as the situation was ruled offside. 안전놀이터
The reason Hwang Hee-chan’s scoring has been stagnant is that he has not had many opportunities to play. He scored 5 goals last season, but this season it was all 2 assists without scoring. He was pushed out of the main competition and lacked opportunities to step on the ground.
However, after new coach Hulen Lopetegui took the helm, he succeeded in reversing the atmosphere by planting the image of ‘a striker who does his best in team play’, and is gradually increasing his playing time. In addition to this, he also operated the scoring gun and revealed his prospects for the future. Soccer statistics site Sofascore gave Hwang Hee-chan a rating of 7.4 after the game, giving him the highest score among Wolverhampton’s players.
Thanks to Hwang Hee-chan’s equalizer, Wolverhampton, who drew 2-2 with strong Liverpool, will play a rematch later to determine which team will advance to the next round according to the rules of the tournament, which must determine the match.