Chapter 51 – First Win (8)
051
During the final stage, Song Hyuk-kyu, who started as a side midfielder for Myunghak University, gritted his teeth.
Originally, he would not have been the owner of this place.
A non-primary rotation member.
It was also thanks to his excellent defense that Song Hyuk-gyu, whose main position was center back, was able to start as a side midfielder, which he was unfamiliar with in the important stage of the finals.
‘I only need to block this bastard!’
It was to prevent Hojindae No. 15 from rampaging right in front of him.
‘Certainly not easy. It’s just too much.’
When I listened to the director’s request, I didn’t worry too much.
Because Song Hak-kyu’s defensive ability was the best in the college league. He is called one of the best of the best, and he is not playing in rotation for nothing in the abuse of a regular member of the championship.
However, despite the best defense in the league, being a rotation member was because Song Hak-gyu had a big drawback.
Just a small kidney.
For a Korean man, a height of 180cm is by no means short. Rather, he is tall enough to be proud of as a ‘Winner’, but the reality was that even 180 cm tall would be classified as short if he was a soccer player, especially a center back.
Surprisingly, there are quite a few short center backs in the soccer world.
There are even players like Spain’s Carlos Puyol, Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro, and Argentina’s Roberto Ayala, all of whom are 170cm tall and have become legends in club teams and national teams.
However, they had the ability to make up for the weakness of being single.
Even though he is short, he has an inhuman physical ability to show aerial combat ability that surpasses a fairly tall striker, command the defensive line with overwhelming judgment and soccer intelligence and select accurate positions, or have excellent playmaking ability from the rear.
Of course, if Song Hak-kyu had this ability, he would not have been pushed out of the rotation.
Song Hak-gyu was only good at defense. He only defensively.
But that’s also why he was able to take on this role on the stage of the finals.
‘How did you get it? I will absolutely stop it!’
I was able to notice it because it was Song Hak-gyu, who had been hanging around nearby, keeping a close eye on No. 15 at Hojindae.
The guy who had been hanging around as if he had nothing to do with the team that was constantly being beaten, suddenly rushed at him.
‘No. 15… Was it Hong Min-joon?’
Only 1st year now.
Being a freshman and starting out in the finals? I know that he is so talented that the coach puts him in close contact by using him as a side midfielder, but
‘I’ll block it again!’
Even so, a freshman with little experience.
This time, he grasps the point where the ball flies like a ghost and follows closely behind the running guy.
Trapping is so mysterious and his skill is so good that even when he loses his balance, he keeps his possession until the end, so he abandons the thought of stealing the ball a long time ago, and this time, with the intention of delaying time, when he uses only one foot as a stepping foot for trapping, if he pushes like this —
‘What!?’
Obviously shaken
Even though the guy’s balance was disrupted by the fierce competition— he changed the direction of the flying ball with an unbelievable first touch.
Between Song Hak-kyu’s legs, which were wide open during the competition.
‘Ah, ah, no way!’
In the short time when his eyes were drawn to the ball passing between his legs, Song Hak-kyu quickly grabbed his uniform and pulled at the movement of the guy who regained his balance in an instant as if he was about to run away.
Of course, the power of a guy running away must have a repulsive force, but I don’t feel any repulsive force from the pulling hand.
Rather, the guy who was meekly pulled by the pulling force… As if he had waited, he used the pulling force to spin around with Song Hak-gyu’s body as an axis, and then naturally knocked off the hand he was holding and ran away.
“Oh, how can it be….”
Song Hak-gyu, who forced his leg to twist and knocked him on the butt while trying to follow him, had no choice but to sit down and watch his teammates break through like scarecrows.
1 person, 2 people, 3 people… And goal.
The director’s nagging voice, which was overly concerned, passed through my mind.
“This… What nonsense… “
* * *
Generally, college league games are not televised.
The reason is simple. Because it’s not popular.
However, the college league is a competition organized by the National Federation of Livestock Cooperatives. It is also a nationally held tournament, so it is broadcasted when it is near the final. By internet.
Even if it is an internet broadcast, there must be a caster and commentary.
Commentator Kim Chan-shik, who was in charge of relaying today’s college league final, The King of Kings, was roaring.
“Run! Run run run run aaaaa!!! It’s fast!”
“Hey, Ki, commentator Kim Chan-sik. You need to calm down and explain, explain—”
“#15 Hong Min-jun!! Unbelievable sh——woofer play!! A great play came out!!”
“So the commentary—”
“Woo -woo !!
“…Yes, Hojin University number 15 Hong Min-jun grabbed the ball from the half-line and dribbled it, breaking through 4 players and scoring a goal—”
“Ko -all ~ It’s like !!
Caster Han Sang-yong quickly continued, pulling the hem of Kim Chan-sik’s commentary, who jumped up in a frenzy and shouted.
“Oh, this is a famous scene. A replay screen appears. Commentator Kim Chan-sik, can I ask for an explanation?”
“Looking at the replay video, kya~ I’m speechless! It’s really great, our Hong Min-joon player!”
“Yes, it is a great move. So what was the move?”
“Big~~!! See it here!! Myonghak University’s Song Hak-gyu uses the power of the athlete pulling on his uniform to turn his body, loosen his hands, and run away!! After that, break through 3 people and shoot! Big~!!”
“Ah yes… Okay.”
Han Sang-yong, who was sweating while watching Kim Chan-sik screaming with the tension of the other world, checked the chat window with concern.
— I’m tired
— Jiri-go-go-go-go-go-go-go!
—Wow, college league numbers
—Commentary Who is it? Shouting Ojihaha
—Kim Chan-sikhahaIt’s like this here too
— AhhahaI can’t stand Chansik-hyung’s shoutinghaha
—The true story of the half-line dribble.
—Is number 15 good at this, or is the opponent just herbal?
—Myonghak University is a prestigious school that regularly wins college leaguesㅇㅇ
—But what is number 15 really?;; I’m all alone lol…
—I am more surprised at wakkoo than soccer skills. Is that a soccer player wakkoo;;
Aren’t there surprisingly many positive chats?
Besides, 200 people in the audience?
Han Sang-yong looked at him again after rubbing his eyes several times.
Ay~ I must have guessed 20 people wrong, but 200 people were right.
“Eh… I would like to inform the 200 or so viewers who are watching The King of Kings once again. This is the Korea University soccer stadium. Myunghak University and Hojin University, and Hojin University and Myunghak University finals are being held, caster Han Sang-yong, commentator—”
“Yaaaaa of course” Of Hong Min-joon, who caught the ball again and is a dribbling idol like a storm!!”
“…Yes, commentator Kim Chan-shik.”
* * *
Halftime at the end of the first half.
The locker room at Hojin University was quiet.
Despite leading the score by a whopping 2:1, no one opened their mouths.
Around the time when everyone was holding their breath watching Hong Min-jun and Yoon-hyuk take a rough breath, Bang! The door opened roughly and director Na Gun-seong entered.
“What are you doing?”
“…”
“Why are you so quiet. Is everyone guilty?”
“No.”
“Bastards. I think you guys will know how pathetic your own play was without telling me. Except for Minjun Hong and Hyuk Yoon, everyone was disappointing. It’s the final. You can lose in the final. But are you going to lose anyway? Even if you lose, Won’t you feel relieved after losing with all your might?”
What is the most painful game for players?
A record-breaking defeat? Losing a match against a rival team? Losing in the finals?
Of course, none of the listed defeats are painless.
But most of all, the defeat that gives the players a sense of frustration and helplessness is losing without showing their original skills.
It’s the final
What a final.
The finals where a team no one expected to advance to was a blast.
How would the players feel if they self-destructed after showing a series of mistakes under the pressure of tension on a stage like this?
Everyone knows that you shouldn’t be nervous and you should play normally. I know, but I just can’t do that in the arena.
“I have nothing more to say. Whether it’s tactical instructions or movements, I’ve already practiced everything in training. But you guys. Are you confident you won’t regret looking back at this game in the future? I think you’ll regret everything except Hong Min-jun and Yoon-hyuk?”
“…”
“Kids. Go and play without regret. Isn’t it the final? And then. It’s okay if you make mistakes. Own goal? It works! Why? Look over there.”
At the coach’s words, the players’ eyes all turned to the direction the fingers were pointing.
Hong Min-jun and Yoon-hyeok with puzzled expressions.
Pointing at the two, the director laughed.
“They’ll do it all. Did you see it before? Breaking through four or five players at a time and scoring goals like crazy. And even though there’s so much pressure, they pass it with all their might. Do you understand now? Even if you shit on the field, they’ll I’ll clean it up. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, just run and come.
The manager left the locker room with those words, and headed to the ground to start the second half in a still quiet but curiously motivated atmosphere.
“Yumma. Hong Min-joon.”
“Your senior.”
“Sorry.”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry for playing like an idiot.”
“What do you mean all of a sudden?”
“Hyuk-ah. I’ll take on the role of anchor. In the first place, holding was my role.”
Football is a complex sport. No, all sports are like that.
It’s not just physical ability and technical ability.
Although it cannot be quantified, mental ability is also an important factor that cannot be left out.
Psychology didn’t just come out of nowhere. Mental strength alone cannot solve everything, but it is impossible to achieve good results without mental strength.
It is true that the players of Hojin University are lacking compared to the individual players of Myunghak University, except for Minjun Hong and Hyuk Yoon. However, if it was pushed to the point where it could not be compared, it was by no means.
“Damn it! Didn’t it just have to stop this bastard!?”
“The other side! Block the right side too!!”
Myonghak University players, thinking of Hojindae, who was lethargic and making mistakes throughout the first half, began to struggle with Hojindae, who began to show his skills.
Normal level of play that would not have been embarrassing if it was normal.
However, Myeonghak University coach, who believed that only No. 13 Yoon-hyeok and No. 15 Hong Min-jun would have to be careful, came up with an extreme tactic to prepare for the two.
“Even if it’s a foul play!!”
Hit the counter.
Myonghak University players, who thought they would try to break through the dribble, which looked like the first half, were crowding Hong Min-jun, and Hong Min-jun’s foot gently kicked the ball.
The ball shot past the gap between the Myunghak University players and landed on Lee Gyu-shik, who was in the opposite direction, and rolled sideways again and headed in front of Yoon-hyeok.
In front of Hong Min-jun, who is running at a furious speed.
Perong!
Once again, the net swayed.
Score 3:1.
After that, the match turned into a showcase showing the overwhelming performance of only one player, and a new record was set in the King of the Kings.
7:2
Highest score in the final ever.
Highest score in the final ever.
The player with the most goals in the finals of all time.
The player with the most assists in the finals of all time.
The King of the College League is born.