"I don't think it was my goal," Son Heung-min's candid confession... Yet officially credited with the goal, tying Cha Bum-keun for most goals in Korean men's international history [On-site at Sangam]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

"I don't think it was my goal. If it is recorded as my goal, I would feel a bit uneasy about it."

Son Heung-min (LAFC), captain of the South Korean national football team, tied for first place in the all-time list of top scorers in men's A-matches in Korea.

Son Heung-min scored a consolation goal in the 35th minute of the second half during the Hana Bank Invitational National Team Friendly Match against Uruguay held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 28th.

South Korea suffered a heavy 1-4 defeat to Uruguay on that day.

Earlier, having comprehensively defeated Ecuador 3-0 on the 24th to secure their first victory under interim head coach Roberto Moreno, they failed to maintain their momentum.

At least Son Heung-min scored Korea's only goal, preserving some dignity. Son Heung-min deflected a cross delivered from the right flank by Lee Kang-in (Atletico Madrid) to shake the net.

Officially, it was Son Heung-min's 58th A-match goal.

With this, Son Heung-min has recorded 58 goals in 149 A-matches, tying former national team head coach Cha Bum-keun for first place in the all-time list of top scorers in Korean men's A-matches.

However, Son Heung-min's reaction when meeting reporters after the match was unexpected.

Regarding the goal in question, Son Heung-min candidly stated, "First of all, I don't think it was my goal."

He continued, "The cross came in while I was moving, but to my feeling, I didn't feel the ball touching me," explaining, "So I would like to say that I don't think it was my goal."

Even he himself could not be certain whether he had made contact with the ball.

Son Heung-min re-emphasized, "At the very least, if I had hit the ball, there is a feeling you get while playing, but I didn't have that feeling of contact."

He added, "If this goal is recorded as mine, I would feel uneasy about it too."

However, based on the judgment of the Match Operations Headquarters (Korea Football Association) and the referees, it was ultimately credited to Son Heung-min.

As a result, Son Heung-min has risen to tie with Cha Bum-keun for first place in the all-time list of top scorers in Korean men's football A-matches.

Personally, it was a moment that adorned a page in Korean football history, but Son Heung-min's focus was on the team's defeat rather than the record.

He said, "I don't think that is what matters," adding, "Right now, since we lost badly, I think that is more important."

On that day, South Korea was dragged around by Uruguay from the early stages of the match. They were greatly shaken after conceding three goals in the first half alone, and the score gap widened further with additional concessions in the second half.

Reflecting on the cause of the defeat, Son Heung-min said, "I think we conceded too quickly," adding, "As a result, the players became anxious, and as they tried to play more safely, it seems we ended up playing a stifled game."

Nevertheless, he did not view this defeat solely in a negative light.

Son Heung-min said, "I don't want to accept this kind of defeat, but I think it is also part of football," adding, "Uruguay showed why they are a strong team."

He continued, "As players, we often get overly excited when we always win, but at such times, we must approach the match with even more humility," emphasizing, "I learned that lesson once again."

He did not issue any special criticism to his teammates. Son Heung-min said, "Even without saying it explicitly, I know exactly how the players feel," adding, "Regardless of the match result, the fact that the players gave their best on the field does not change."

He further conveyed, "I told them to rest well, take time to recharge, and then come back again."

He did not hide his sense of apology toward the home fans. Son Heung-min said, "Even though the holiday period has ended, a truly large number of people came to the stadium," adding, "It is a very happy thing as a football player."

He then bowed his head, saying, "I am deeply sorry that we could not deliver a good result," and added, "I sincerely appreciate the support and love you have shown us in such large numbers."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original