South Korean soccer captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur FC) scored two goals and provided one assist for South Korea against China, but the ceremony is turning heads.

The match between South Korea and China in Group C of the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup Second Qualifying Round was held at the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center on Jan. 21.

In the match, Son Heung-min scored twice in the first half, first from a penalty kick in the 11th minute and then from a header off a corner kick by Lee Kang-in in the 45th minute. In the second half, he assisted Jung Seung-hyun’s goal from a free kick.

Jung, who played the full game, also showed off a rarely seen lobona kick (a technique that involves crossing your legs to take a shot or cross) as he is usually very good with both feet.

With the 3:0 victory, the South Koreans have won both of their matches in Asia’s second round of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup North and Central America. South Korea now sits atop Group C with six points. Group C consists of South Korea, Thailand, China, and Singapore. The second-place finisher will advance to the third round of World Cup qualifying.

Korea’s next match in the World Cup Asia 2018 qualifiers is against Thailand in March 2024.

After the match, Son said it was a tough game, but he showed off his big boy side, saying, “I had a great experience coming to China and playing in front of a great crowd.”

Some Chinese fans booed the Korean national anthem, swore at fans wearing Tottenham jerseys or carrying flags, and even shot lasers at the players. Son Heung-min was also hit with a laser before his penalty kick.

“It was a difficult game, but we deserved the three points. The Korean team played a great game and everyone did a great job.”

He credited Park Yong-woo for the header, saying he did a good job defending it. As for the current national team, he was modest, saying that there have been many good teams historically, but not the best.

“When I heard (China) say that they don’t care much about me and that they know how to stop me, I didn’t feel good. I respect and admire all the players in soccer, so I thought it was right that I, as the captain of the national team, should be the first one to lead by example when it comes to these comments. I’m grateful that the players overcame it together.”

Earlier, in a training session on the eve of the game, Son told the players as captain, “The crowd will be full tomorrow, so let’s show them what kind of soccer we want to play and make them not be able to breathe at all.”

“I said, ‘Let’s be tough, let’s play a good game, let’s play a good game,'” he says. I think the players understood that, and I think we did a good job of showing on the field what I wanted and what the coach wanted, so I think we had a good game.”

“It’s no secret that we want to win the Asian Cup next year. There are a few teams who think they are the favorites, but if we don’t get fooled by that and always prepare with humility, I think we can have a good tournament,” he said, adding that he will try to find a good synergy. He added that he will return to his team and prepare without injuries.

“I am grateful that the sport of soccer can receive this much love,” he told his fans. It’s been a very grateful year for me, to the point where I wonder if I deserve the love I’ve received because you’ve supported me a lot as a person before Son Heung-min, the soccer player,” he said.

“Thank you for allowing me to be happy every day as a soccer player. In the future, I will try to give you the joy and happiness that I can give as a soccer player, and I will show you what I have for the fans without any arrogance or arrogance, so I will be grateful if you give me positive energy like now.” “This year, there were good and bad times, but it was a year that I was able to grow thanks to the fans who were always behind me without changing every moment. Please continue to support me,” he said.

The Republic of Korea will kick off the 2023 AFC Qatar Asian Cup on Monday, January 15, 2024 against Bahrain in Group E of the tournament. Group E also includes Malaysia, Jordan, and Bahrain. 먹튀검증