South Korean winger Son Heung-min picked the perfect time to end his international scoring
drought on Thursday, scoring both goals in the team’s 2-0 extra-time win over Uzbekistan to send South Korea into the semifinals at the AFC Asian Cup.
Son scored the first goal on a diving header in the 104th minute, taking a cross from left fullback Kim Jin-su and putting it just past goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov.
Nesterov had been stellar all match, but could only get a piece of Son’s header as it trickled over the goal line.
Son’s second goal of the night came in the 119th minute and sealed Uzbekistan’s fate. It was the more spectacular goal of the two, as Son, set up by a perfect pass from right fullback Cha Du-ri, struck the ball into the top of the net, well out of Nesterov’s reach.
Son entered the match at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on a 10-match goalless drought. His last international goal had come in South Korea’s second group match against Algeria last June during the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Son didn’t have a memorable start to the Asian Cup. He wasn’t so deadly in the tournament opener against Oman and then sat out the second match against Kuwait with a cold. He recovered in time to come off the bench against Australia in the group finale but was also ineffective.
Head coach Uli Stielike, however, didn’t lose faith in his pupil. Son accompanied Stielike to the pre-match press conference on Wednesday, and Stielike singled out the 22-year-old midfielder as the key player against Uzbekistan.
Asked about his scoring drought, Son insisted he wasn’t playing for his personal glory and was only trying to help the team win in any way he can.
Son couldn’t quite live up to his words in regulation, as the two sides went scoreless. Yet he came through in extra time when the team needed him the most.
After Son’s first goal, South Korea went through a nervy stretch with Uzbekistan building pressure. Toward the final whistle, Cha found an opening and blazed down the right flank before finding Son.
The youngster moved toward the penalty mark and fired one past Nesterov, dashing Uzbekistan’s hopes for a comeback. (Yonhap)
