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Midfielder on his way to becoming game changer for Korean football
By KH디지털2Published : Aug. 11, 2016 - 13:22
South Korean midfielder Kwon Chang-hoon is already considered a promising starlet with his energetic performance. And now at the Summer Games, he is trying to become a game changer for South Korean football.
Kwon netted the only goal of the football match between South Korea and Mexico at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Wednesday and delivered his side a 1-0 victory. Kwon's goal also lifted South Korea to the quarterfinals in the men's Olympic football tournament as the Group C winners with two wins and a draw, their best group stage performance ever at the Olympics.
But Kwon, who started as an attacking midfielder behind the lone striker Hwang Hee-chan, stepped up just as South Korea needed him. In the 77th minute, he took control of a loose ball following a corner kick and dribbled past several defenders before unleashing a left-foot screamer.
It was also South Korea's first shot on target in the match.
Kwon nearly got his second goal in the 85th after he received Hwang's pass in the box. His shot missed the target, but it was enough for South Korea to secure a spot in the last eight. The midfielder now has three goals at the men's Olympic football tournament after scoring two against Fiji last week.
Kwon has been a pivotal player for his South Korean club Suwon Samsung Bluewings. The 22-year-old last season scored 10 goals in 36 matches for the Bluewings to finish second in the league.
And his performance caught the eyes of Uli Stielike, head coach of the senior national football squad. Kwon has three goals in seven matches for South Korea so far. He also helped the national team win the EAFF East Asian Championship last year, the first title won by Stielike with the Taeguk Warriors.
With the Olympic squad, Kwon showed his presence just like he did with other teams. At the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship in January, which doubled as the Olympic qualifying tournament, Kwon scored five goals in six matches, helping South Korean punch its ticket to Brazil.
Kwon was sidelined about a month due to an Achilles tendon injury before coming to Brazil. While concerns were mounting for his fitness at the Rio Games, Kwon didn't hesitate to prove his reputation by scoring goals and attacking opponents with his energetic runs on the pitch.
Kwon is a player of mettle when he enters the pitch and faces his opponents. However, he becomes humble when he is in the spotlight. Despite being the hero of the match, Kwon gave his teammates credit.
"I just got the (scoring) opportunity because all of us didn't give up," Kwon said. We prepared for this match harder than what we did for the match against Germany, but it was a pity that we couldn't play the game as we wanted to. (Yonhap)
