[서울=뉴스핌] Reporter Kim Yong-seok = Hwang Hee-chan scored a goal in his English Premier League (EPL) debut.
Hwang Hee-chan (25, Wolverhampton) was replaced in the EPL (Premier League) 4th round match against Watford on the 12th (Korean time) and scored an additional goal in the 38th minute of the second half to help the team win 2-0.
| [영국= 로이터 뉴스핌] Reporter Kim Yong-seok = Hwang Hee-chan scored his debut goal as a substitute in the 4th round of the Premier League against Watford on the 12th (Korean time). 2021.09.12 fineview@newspim.com |
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| [영국= 로이터 뉴스핌] Reporter Kim Yong-seok = Hwang Hee-chan, who scored his debut goal as a substitute in the 4th round of the Premier League (EPL) against Watford on the 12th (Korean time). 2021.09.12 fineview@newspim.com |
In the 18th minute of the second half, Hwang Hee-chan, who replaced Trinkang, scored a ‘key goal 20 minutes after debut’ in the 38th minute leading 1-0. With this, Hwang Hee-chan became the 8th Korean player to score a goal in the EPL after Park Ji-sung, Seol Ki-hyun, Lee Cheong-yong, Ji Dong-won, Ki Seong-yong, Kim Bo-kyung, and Son Heung-min. So far, 14 Korean players have debuted in the Premier League, but Hwang Hee-chan’s goal before debut is the first. As the first goal of the day was an own goal, Hwang Hee-chan’s goal became Wolverhampton’s first goal of the season and the first goal of the season.
Also, his debut goal before his EPL debut is the first in 100 years. Hwang Hee-chan posted on his SNS, “This is a great victory for Wolverhampton. A goal on the stage I dreamed of.”
Korean players are maintaining a ‘special relationship’ with Portugal. Hwang Hee-chan transferred from the Bundesliga Leipzig on loan this August. There are many Portuguese players in Wolverhampton, and Raj is also Portuguese-born. Raj, who was in charge of Benfica, is also showing interest in Lee Kang-in, showing a closeness to Korean players. Tottenham manager Sao Totto is also from Portugal. The head coach of Sangtu moved from Wolverhampton to Tottenham Hotspur, where Son Heung-min belongs. Son Heung-min also gave Sangtu a goal before his debut. Paulo Bento, who is in charge of the Korean national football team, is also Portuguese.
Wolverhampton manager Bruno Raz said, “Hee-chan Hwang didn’t have much time to train. He seems to have prepared a lot by watching videos alone and learning how to play offensively. I hope we can create a positive future together in the future.”
Hwang Hee-chan, who scored 11 goals in a season in Salzburg, Austria, moved to Bundesliga Leipzig for the 2020-2021 season. However, he was pushed back from the main competition and was also confirmed with COVID-19. Wolverhampton sent a love call to him, who rarely got a chance, and a one-year loan transfer was made.
Wolverhampton fans are thrilled because he scored a goal in a situation he wasn’t used to right now. Local fans welcomed the news of Hwang Hee-chan’s goal, saying, “We also have Sony (Son Heung-min’s nickname).”
Hwang Hee-chan, who scored his debut goal, was selected in ‘KING OF THE MATCH’ selected by local EPL fans and ‘PLAY OF THE MATCH’ by BBC.
fineview@newspim.com
