*This content was translated by AI.
Korea national team midfielder Hwang In-beom (30) made a strong impression from his FC Porto debut. Despite limited playing time, he displayed quick decision-making and sharp one-touch passes, earning high praise from local Portuguese media.
On the 26th (Korean time), Porto secured a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa (England) in a pre-season match held at Estádio do Dragão in Porto, Portugal.
Today's match also marked Hwang In-beom's debut for Porto.
Starting from the bench, Hwang was substituted into the game in the 37th minute of the second half when Porto led 2-1. Although only eight minutes remained in regular time, it was enough to etch his name into the hearts of home fans.
Hwang took on a more attacking role. Whenever opportunities arose, he moved freely forward from the front line, adding strength to the attack. His bold penetrations were also impressive.
In the 42nd minute of the second half, he created a decisive moment. Following a passing sequence by Porto, Hwang received the ball on the right side of the penalty box and immediately delivered a fantastic one-touch lobbed pass without hesitation. The ball connected perfectly with Borja Sainz, who was positioned in front of the goal.
Sainz immediately attempted a header shot, but the ball went straight toward the goalkeeper. Hwang In-beom's debut assist for Porto unfortunately fell short.
Although he did not record an offensive point, it was more than enough to showcase Hwang's quick judgment and refined technique.
After the match, local Portuguese media also highly evaluated Hwang's performance. The Portuguese sports outlet A Bola stated, "Korean midfielder Hwang In-beom was one of the players who drew the most attention during this home presentation match." They added, "His playing time was only about 10 minutes, but he did not disappoint expectations."
They continued, "While Stéphe Eustáquio stayed back to defend, Hwang freely exploited more advanced areas. He showed concise yet highly effective ball touches, and his quick decision-making stood out."
The media also highlighted the scoring opportunity created by Hwang in the 42nd minute of the second half. The outlet noted, "Hwang created an excellent attacking scene that almost led to a goal. Although his playing time was short, he left behind expectations to see more of him this season. Watch out for Hwang In-beom this year."
Porto officially announced the signing of Hwang In-beom on the 21st. The contract runs until 2029 for three years and includes a one-year extension option. The transfer fee is reported to be around €5 million (approximately 8.5 billion won). He was assigned the number 16 jersey.
It is reported that the decision to sign Hwang In-beom for Porto was largely influenced by the young head coach Francesco Paoli, born in 1989. Coach Paoli closely monitored Hwang's performances while managing Ajax (Netherlands), a rival of Feyenoord, during the 2024-2025 season. After taking charge at Porto, he directly brought Hwang into the team.
Joining Porto with high expectations from the coach, Hwang clearly demonstrated his strengths from his debut match in front of home fans. Although his playing time was only eight minutes by regular time standards, his quick judgment and concise passing alone raised expectations for the new season.
Meanwhile, three goals were scored in the first half of today's match. Porto took the lead in the 5th minute with an early goal from William Gomes. Aston Villa equalized in the 12th minute with a goal by Luca Lynch, but Porto regained the lead in the 41st minute when key striker Pepe scored the winning goal.
Porto maintained their one-goal advantage throughout the second half and secured a 2-1 victory.
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*This content was translated by AI.
