Hwang In-beom's Porto debut, everyone praised him but he blamed himself... Instead of blaming teammates, he said, "I could have done better"

*This content was translated by AI.

South Korean national team midfielder Hwang In-beom (30) delivered an impressive FC Porto debut in front of home fans. While local Portuguese media and fans praised his performance, Hwang himself downplayed it, saying, "I could have done better."

Porto secured a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa (England) in a pre-season match held at Estádio do Dragão in Porto, Portugal, on the 26th (Korea time).

The match also marked Hwang In-beom's official debut for Porto. Although it was an unofficial game, he took to the field with his teammates wearing the Porto jersey for the first time in a real match. It was also his first stage to showcase his skills in front of home fans.

The debut performance earned a passing grade. Not only did local Portuguese media praise Hwang In-beom's short but impactful play, but fans also showered him with compliments.

Starting from the bench, Hwang In-beom was substituted into the match in the 37th minute of the second half when Porto led 2-1. With only eight minutes remaining in regular time, it was enough to leave a lasting impression on home fans.

Hwang In-beom took on a relatively attacking role. While teammate Stefan Eustaquio defended from the back, Hwang moved freely in more advanced positions.

This provided a glimpse into how Francesco Paoli, Porto's head coach for the upcoming 2026-2027 season, might utilize Hwang In-beom. Whenever opportunities arose, Hwang actively pushed forward to bolster the attack. His bold runs penetrating near the penalty box were also impressive.

In the 42nd minute of the second half, he even created a decisive scoring opportunity. After a series of passing plays by Porto, Hwang In-beom received the ball on the right side of the penalty box and immediately delivered a one-touch lobbed pass without hesitation. The ball connected perfectly with Borja Sainz waiting in front of the goal.

Sainz immediately attempted a header shot, but the ball went straight toward the goalkeeper. Had it resulted in a goal, Hwang In-beom would have recorded his first assist right from his debut match.

Although the attacking opportunity did not lead to a point, the scene was sufficient to confirm Hwang In-beom's quick decision-making and refined technique.

After the match, local Portuguese media also highly evaluated Hwang In-beom's performance.

Portuguese sports outlet A Bola stated, "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 Eustaquio covered the back, Hwang In-beom freely exploited more advanced areas. He demonstrated concise yet highly effective ball touches, and his quick decision-making stood out."

The scoring opportunity created by Hwang In-beom in the 42nd minute of the second half was also highlighted separately. The outlet noted, "Hwang In-beom created an excellent attacking scene that almost led to a goal. Although his playing time was short, he left fans eager to see more. Pay attention to Hwang In-beom."

However, Hwang In-beom himself expressed regret about the same scene.

According to another Portuguese outlet O Jogo, after his debut match, Hwang In-beom said, "I am very happy. But at the same time, I feel a bit disappointed." He honestly admitted, "I believe I could have done better in the scene where I connected a cross to Borja Sainz inside the penalty box."

Although Sainz's header did not result in a goal, Hwang In-beom first reflected on his own pass rather than his teammate's finishing. He judged that he should have executed more precise play despite creating a sufficiently threatening opportunity. Hwang In-beom vowed, "I will do better next time."

He expressed gratitude for the warm welcome from home fans. Hwang In-beom said, "The atmosphere in the stadium was truly amazing. It is an honor to be able to play in such a stadium with such fans as a player." He added, "I am very happy and proud of myself."

Porto fans also showed high expectations for Hwang In-beom's signing and debut performance. On Porto fan pages on Reddit, the world's largest online community, reactions included: "Already won over by Hwang In-beom," "It seems like the ball is stuck to his feet," "It feels like we've acquired a proper player," and "I only saw him briefly, but it was enough."

A Bola once again praised Hwang In-beom in another overall match review, stating, "Hwang In-beom showed impressive and promising play."

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*This content was translated by AI.