'Son Heung-min, a fantastic partner → Wonder goal explodes' Oh Hyun-kyu: "I came on as a substitute during the World Cup..." [Suwon]

*This content was translated by AI.

Oh Hyun-kyu (Besiktas), who scored the first goal under coach Roberto Moreno, shared his thoughts about starting alongside Son Heung-min (LAFC) as a striking duo. Having previously entered the field mainly as a substitute for Son Heung-min, he has now fully established himself as a partner creating synergy at the forefront of the attack.

The South Korean national football team defeated Ecuador 3-0 in a friendly match hosted by Hana Bank at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 24th.

In the 9th minute of the second half, Oh Hyun-kyu's right-footed mid-range shot deflected off the opposing defensive wall, becoming Moreno's first goal as coach and the decisive strike of the day.

After the match, in the mixed zone, Oh Hyun-kyu said with a bright smile, "I'm truly happy to have scored. It was especially meaningful and uplifting to score here in Suwon under the new coach."

Since this goal was scored at Suwon, where his professional career began, the celebration was particularly special. Oh Hyun-kyu reflected, "Playing in Suwon made me feel even more emotional, so my celebration came out a bit more dynamic."

The highlight of that day's starting lineup was the striking duo of Oh Hyun-kyu and Son Heung-min. Under the previous coaching regime, Son Heung-min was often brought on as a substitute to manage his stamina, but under coach Moreno's 4-4-2 system, he stepped out as a partner leading the front-line attack alongside Oh Hyun-kyu.

Regarding his chemistry with Son Heung-min, Oh Hyun-kyu said, "Perhaps because the coach trusted me, there were no specific instructions given to me personally. The coach set the stage for me to freely showcase my strengths."

Continuing about his synergy with Son Heung-min, Oh Hyun-kyu explained, "I've played many times as a substitute alongside Hyung-min during the World Cup and in regular training sessions. Because I've watched him for such a long time, I know exactly what kind of plays he wants and what he needs to do. Since we understand each other so well, we were able to display great chemistry and combination play on the field."

When asked about the scene where the winning goal was scored, Oh Hyun-kyu showed no hesitation in expressing his confidence. He recalled, "From the moment I touched the ball, my only thought was to shoot without fail. I couldn't see anything around me; all I saw was the goal. I took a shot, and fortunately, it deflected into the net. I'm grateful for that."

Oh Hyun-kyu also spoke about the frustrating flow in the first half. He said, "The opponent played aggressively, but since we were applying the new coach's new tactics in actual competition, the players needed time to adapt. During halftime, the coach encouraged us, saying we were doing well. As the second half progressed, the players better understood the tactics and movements, allowing us to create many more high-quality moments."

When asked about future competition for a starting striker position in the national team, Oh Hyun-kyu maintained a calm yet confident attitude. He stated, "There are many excellent strikers in the national team, each fulfilling their role at their respective positions. Whatever opportunities arise, I believe the coach will maximize each player's strengths. If everyone prepares to do their best and the team remains as united as it was today, we should be able to win not only the upcoming match against Uruguay but also all remaining A-match fixtures."

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*This content was translated by AI.