Praised from his Porto debut! "Watch out for Hwang In-beom" — He played just 8 minutes and impressed locals... A 'fantastic one-touch' assist narrowly missed the mark

*This content was translated by AI.

South Korean 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 (Korea 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 freely moved forward from the front line, adding momentum to Porto's attack. His bold penetrations were also impressive.

In the 42nd minute of the second half, he created a decisive moment. After a series of passing plays by Porto, Hwang received the ball on the right side of the penalty box and immediately delivered a fantastic one-touch lobbed pass. 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 narrowly missed coming off.

Although he did not record an offensive point, it was more than enough to showcase his quick judgment and refined technique.

After the match, local Portuguese media also highly evaluated Hwang's performance. Avante, a specialized Portuguese sports outlet, reported: "South Korean midfielder Hwang In-beom was one of the players who drew the most attention during this home presentation match." They added, "Although his playing time was only about 10 minutes, he did not disappoint expectations."

They continued, "While Stéphe Eustáquio stayed behind to defend, Hwang freely advanced into more forward 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 stated: "Hwang In-beom 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 heavily influenced by the young manager Francesco Paoli, born in 1989. Paoli closely monitored Hwang's performances while coaching Ajax (Netherlands), a rival of Feyenoord, during the 2024-2025 season. After taking charge at Porto, he directly brought Hwang into the squad.

Joining Porto with high expectations from the manager, Hwang In-beom clearly showcased his strengths in his debut match watched by home fans. Despite playing only eight minutes based on regular time, 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 through 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 until the end of the second half to secure a 2-1 victory.

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*This content was translated by AI.