FC Seoul’s future Kang Joo-hyuk expressed his feelings about facing Yang Min-hyuk (Kangwon FC), his best friend of the same age.
FC Seoul secured three points by winning 2-0 at home in the 28th round of Hana Bank K League 1 2024 against Gangwon FC at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 24th.
Seoul started to take the lead with Lee Seung-mo’s fantastic mid-range first goal in the 33rd minute of the first half, but added Lingard’s additional goal in the 41st minute of the first half to take the lead. During the remaining time, Seoul secured a scoreless victory by solidly defending against Gangwon, the league’s leading team and the top scorer.
With the victory, Seoul not only jumped from sixth to third by increasing the number of points to 45 (13 wins, 6 draws, 9 losses), but also narrowed the gap with top-ranked Kangwon (50 points) to five points, joining the race for the top spot. It has also won five consecutive league titles for the first time in eight years since the 2016 season.
After the game, Kang appeared in the joint coverage area for an interview. On the day, he started in the league for the first time since his debut as a professional player. Kang was substituted at the start of the second half, but he helped Lee Seung-mo to shoot mid-range shots for the first time since his debut as a pro.
Kang Joo-hyuk said, “We prepared a lot against Gangwon, analyzed a lot, and prepared well, so I think we were able to get good results.”
Kang had a showdown with Gangwon winger Yang Min-hyuk, who was born in 2006. Yang, who will join Tottenham Hotspur in January next year, also started in the match against Seoul, but was replaced in the 25th minute of the second half due to difficulties in defending Seoul.
Regarding his confrontation with his close friend Yang Min-hyuk, Kang Joo-hyuk said with a smile, “Thank you (Kim Ki-dong) for giving me this opportunity, and he said he would scold me a lot if I was worse than Gangwon’s Yang Min-hyuk.”
As for the result of the showdown, he said, “I think I did well as I prepared. But I’m a little disappointed that I missed the goal.”
Regarding the point of attack made by Lee Seung-mo, he said, “I just gave it to him, but (Lee) Seung-model hit it so well,” adding, “So I think help is just part of the game, and it’s meaningful as much as possible that we’re winning five consecutive games.”
Kang also answered questions about the ceremony with Lingard on the day. After scoring an additional goal, Lingard performed the ceremony with moves from the famous drama Woo Young-woo. The two players are known to have prepared the ceremony by practicing even before the match.
On the ceremony, Kang said, “I felt great. I felt really great. I think I succeeded in today’s game and did well in the ceremony.”
When learning the ceremony from Lingard, he explained, “I knew it, but I didn’t know it in detail,” adding, “So Jesse taught me well, so I practiced a few times at the training site.”
When asked if he has his own ceremony, Kang said, “I don’t really have one. I asked Jesse to make one for me. I’m waiting because he said okay,” adding, “I’m going to get a goal ceremony from Lingard.”
Kang Joo-hyuk is a promising striker born in 2006 who belongs to Osan High School under Seoul Youth, which signed a semi-professional contract in the middle of this season.
Kang Joo-hyuk, the second semi-professional contractor in Seoul’s history, has been playing as a key member of his team, Osan High School, since his first year of high school with his reckless breakthrough and excellent scoring skills using explosive speed, leading his team to the top of the high school league.
Kang Joo-hyuk, who has received great attention for his outstanding soccer talent since Shinjeong Elementary School, was selected as the “31st Cha Bum-keun Football Award” Best Eleven and has consistently been called up to national teams at all levels to stand out.
Kang Joo-hyuk, who played seven games in the league this season and scored one goal and one assist, said of his debut season, “In the beginning, it takes an over-pace because I want to show something, but the older brothers tell me to read the game well and stay calm.” 안전놀이터
Regarding the match against Gangwon, the first league starter, he said, “It’s my first game as a professional, and I’m so grateful that I can play and match with such amazing brothers that it’s going to be an unforgettable day.”