It was time after all.
Hong Myung-bo, who returned as the head coach of the A-team after 10 years, finished his first journey with one win and one draw. Joo Min-kyu, who helped the national team win 3-1 by scoring a decisive goal at the match against Oman, reunited with Hong at the A-team after about two months. Hong stepped down as the head coach of Ulsan HD on July 11.
Domestic Taegeuk Warriors returned home with Hong on the 12th. In an interview at Incheon International Airport’s arrival hall, Joo Min-kyu expressed confidence, saying, “The second game was better than the first game. It was a game that I was confident that I could repay with better performance because there were many more games left to play.”
Joo started in the match against Palestine on Saturday, but showed lackluster performance. He was replaced as soon as the start of the second half. In the second match against Oman, he was substituted in the 44th minute of the second half, and scored his second A-match goal.
He had limited time. After conducting tactical training sessions as a whole, Hong played the match against Palestine. The result was a 0-0 draw. The match against Oman was different. “My income is that the second match was better than the first one. The second half was better than the first half against Palestine. Also, the second match was better than the first. That was the part where I could have positive thoughts for the players and the team in the remaining games,” Hong said.
Joo Min-kyu said, “He appointed a tactical coach, and it took time to adapt because it was his first meeting with the players. If we meet often, we will be able to repay you with good performance,” adding, “We had more time to train for the match against Oman. I think the results came out good because we had longer time to think about the direction of how to play tactically while training together.”
Regarding the situation in which the A national team is not 100% supported, he said, “I’m a little disappointed in those parts. It would be nice to bring results if I repay you with good performance, but I actually want to make an excuse, not an excuse that the time was a little short,” and added, “There are more games left in the future. If you watch and support the game, I will make sure to bring better performance and results.”
In the match against Oman, Son gave assist to Hwang Hee-chan’s first goal in the 10th minute of the first half and scored the winning goal with a fantastic left-footed shot in the 37th minute of the second half. He also had one goal and two assists, including Joo Min-kyu’s goal.
Joo’s score came exactly at 100:34. This was the latest goal scored in a 90-minute match between the A-match series for the Korean national team. 먹튀검증
The previous record of the latest A-match score was Cho Kyu-sung’s header equalizer in the 9th minute (98:32 seconds) of extra time in the second half against Saudi Arabia in the round of 16 at the Qatar Asian Cup on January 30 this year. If the extra time is included, the latest A-match score is the equalizer Hwang Jae-won scored in the 15th minute (119:51) of the second half of the extra time against Japan at the 2011 Qatar Asian Cup.
After selecting the oldest A representative (33 years and 333 days) and making his A-match debut (33 years and 343 days), Joo also reported his A-match debut goal for the first time in 34 years and 54 days. “I’ve only heard that the final qualifying round is not easy,” Joo said. “It’s my first time to experience it, and I don’t think there is a team that is really easy. Our team members have a lot of really good players. If we spend time together and unite as one under the direction of the coach, I think we can bring both results and performance,” he stressed.
Joo Min-gyu has been somewhat hesitant in Ulsan recently. The last time he scored a goal in the K League 1 was against FC Seoul (1-0 win) on July 13. Having stopped at his eighth goal, Joo Min-gyu’s position as the top scorer in 2021 and 2023 is faltering. He also made his first direct exit since his debut as a pro.