I Became a World-Class Striker
Episode 1
Born to Succeed
There are two kinds of people in the world.
Those who make it.
And those who don't.
Waaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!
=If Suwon FC score a theatrical goal here, it'll be a draw, and if they push hard in extra time, they might even make it up to K League 1.
=There is still a lot of time left in this fierce, desperate promotion playoff. The players need to focus!
=Whether it's promotion or remaining in the league, it's truly fierce.
=The Sangju Sangmu players have entered a phase of holding on with a mindset that they cannot collapse. They're all dropping back to defend.
=Coach Kim Seong-won has made a firm decision.
Team Suwon FC.
It's the soccer team I belong to. That team, which had long remained in K League 2, is playing a fierce match on the verge of promotion.
So, am I playing right now?
'As if.'
I said there are two kinds of people in the world. Those who make it. And those who don't. I was one of those who didn't, and I was currently sitting on the bench.
If I were in the coach's good graces, I would at least be warming up, but I couldn't. The reason was simple. Despite being a striker, I couldn't score goals properly every season, nor could I put in performances close to scoring.
Thanks to that, I was pushed out of the starting competition, and the fans cursed me as a 'wage parasite.'
But what can you do.
My skills are only at this level. Of course, it would make people sigh to hear a fresh-faced twenty-something talking like this, but I knew my place.
'Lee Chang-ryong used to fly around in the past.'
Although I had fallen this far to become a benchwarmer, back in elementary, middle, and high school, I used to dominate.
People might look down on us as second-division players, as K Leaguers, but it was an undeniable fact that, at least in soccer skills, we were on a level far beyond ordinary people.
I dominated my district, won awards, and once dreamed of playing for the national team and going to the World Cup.
But… things didn't go my way.
The truly skilled players went to K League 1 and even advanced to the European stage.
But not me. I worked hard, you know? I worked harder than others. But it didn't work out.
'I have my limits.'
Not everyone can be the protagonist.
I realized that early and was currently watching the match from the bench, facing reality.
The match was in the second half, and the assistant referee raised the electronic board to signal 4 minutes of added time.
The score was 2:1.
If they scored just one more goal, it was a timing where they might be able to go to extra time.
'Even though the attackers were substituted once, if it's a draw… I might be able to play in extra time.'
If that was a happy hope, then fine; if it was despair, the team would remain in the second division. Honestly speaking, Suwon FC… hadn't done badly this season. They had repeated victories nail-biting enough to become a hot topic and eventually made it to the promotion playoffs.
'They fought like fighting cocks. There were a lot of injuries too. They were so amazing that it was a mystery how they made it this far.'
Suwon FC, which had caused a storm in the second division despite the desperation. Thanks to that, they had received attention from the public, but.
'Every match I participated in, we lost. Tch…'
The coach didn't use me because I had lost his trust. Even when sent out in consecutive matches, the striker couldn't score and the matches ended in defeat just the same… With that, how could he use me?
'I'll be… released, right?'
Regardless of the match's outcome, there was a high chance I would be released from this place. I had actually heard such talk from those around me. If that happened… I might go down to a lower league and play matches… or I might give up my lingering attachment to soccer and start anew.
'Maybe open a restaurant?'
Thanks to that, I ended up having such absurd imaginations. A pitiful, shameful player no matter who looked—none other than me, Lee Chang-ryong.
It was while I was spectating this guillotine match with an uncertain outcome.
Swoosh—!
Crack—
"Kuaaaack!"
Beeeeep!!!!!!!!!!!
"Referee! Referee!!!"
"What are you doing, is this a joke?!!!"
"Hey, you bastard!!!!!"
"What the hell is this bastard?"
'Holy crap…'
I froze at the incident that happened in an instant. The fans who had come to the stadium sprang up in excitement and poured down jeers, and the coach hurriedly sent the medical staff into the pitch. The people running with a stretcher.
The players divided into blue and white tried to grab each other by the collar, and the referee blew his whistle to stop them; then, seeing Jason collapsed on the ground, he boldly pulled out a red card.
Uwaaaa!!
Iiyaaaa!!!
"Crazy… How long has it even been since he came on?"
Jason, whose ankle had been bent backwards. Our team's foreign mercenary and ace, goal scorer, super striker… I was so dumbfounded by the sight of the guy being carried out on a stretcher that words failed me.
An incident caused by a reckless back tackle. In the end, Sangju Sangmu player Baek Gyeong-chan received a direct send-off, and while we became numerically superior, the players on the pitch who had lost their ace were dumbfounded like people who had lost their minds.
Our coach's pupils, similarly flustered, were trembling.
=Ah. Coach Lee Geon-il is flustered.
=It's no wonder. Player Jason is Suwon FC's treasure. No matter how much it's a match where they must do their best, they have to think about the future too, don't they?
=We're hearing that his ankle is severely injured… We must hope he's okay.
=In the end, Sangju Sangmu will have to play with 10 players.
=They'll play more defensively.
=Suwon is preparing a quick substitution.
=I don't know if Suwon has any substitution resources. Most of their good players are resting due to injuries, right?
=That's right. Since Suwon came up to the promotion playoffs through fierce battles… ah.
Aaaaah------------
The stadium, which had been heated up, turned a little cold.
The reason was simple.
"Are you really… okay?"
"Sigh. What can I do? You're the only one I've got."
"That's true."
"I'm asking you. I'm not expecting much, so just try to link up with your teammates as best you can."
"I'll do my best. Though there's only 3 minutes left."
"Phew…."
The one hurriedly changing into his uniform and preparing to be substituted was none other than me. But what could I do? Because I hadn't properly played in matches all this time, I had no injuries, and the only striker in Suwon whose physical condition wasn't bad was me.
'What the hell is this, really… Sigh.'
In this match, where if they score an equalizer and go to extra time and somehow make it happen, they might get promoted. The fans knew all too well that there was no one but me, so they couldn't even bring themselves to curse the coach.
"Ugh! Why did it have to be Lee Chang-ryong!"
"Crazy, why is the player pool like thisssss!!!!!!"
"What are we going to do about Jason? He's not badly hurt, is he?"
"Lee Chang-ryong, you run properly, got it? Huh! You bastaaaard! Listen to me!"
'Yeah, I got it.'
Seeing me enter the pitch, they sent some moderate boos and soon just blustered, "Don't do anything stupid!" like people who had given up.
'Hoo. Let's try to make something happen.'
I knew my own skills, so I didn't have big ambitions. I would support the other players with my stamina, which could be called my biggest advantage. I resolved to properly execute the tactics the coach had spoken of.
The pitch I had come onto after a long time.
The sensation of the soft grass wrapping around my studs.
'It's been freaking long.'
The promotion playoff. Honestly, if I weren't nervous, would I even be human? But you know, somehow, I wasn't scared. Whatever happened, I was getting released anyway, right? That was the ending, wasn't it?
So I wasn't nervous.
"Do well. Don't try to play the hero."
"Yeah, that's the plan."
The players on the team didn't expect much either. A scene that showed just how much I had been hated all this time.
But.
'These guys… they have the eyes of people who've completely given up.'
It was no wonder, since they had just watched the ace's ankle get shattered right beside them, but….
Beep—.
'It's a set piece.'
The spot where Jason had been fouled. From there, a free kick chance began; the opposing team built a wall, and we looked for an opportunity. I too wandered near the box, eyeing a chance that might come.
Of course.
"Block him!"
"Watch Park Chan-seong!"
'These bastards….'
Those Sangju Sangmu bastards… I wasn't even on their radar. Well, in K League 2, I was recognized as someone not worth worrying about, so they probably didn't care much.
Thanks to that, all eyes were on Park Chan-seong, the tallest defender on our team with excellent heading ability. He was more heavily marked too.
'Well, what can you do? I just need to hold my position well.'
I had no complaints about that. My head was simply filled with thoughts like, I hope this match ends quickly? What kind of life should I live if I'm released?
Beee—.
"Hoo—"
Thump—!
The ball came up.
A distance slightly away from the box. But it was a spot where a goal could be connected through a set piece chance. The players of both teams jumped up, and time passed. It felt like another minute passed while fumbling around with the preparations.
Of course, the referee would try to continue the match considering the time lost to the foul, but it was definitely a tight situation.
Be that as it may.
Thwack!
"Kurk—"
"Argh!"
Intense.
The ball definitely flew toward Park Chan-seong, and it touched Chan-seong's head as he jumped to get it. The frustrating part was that due to the intense marking shown by the opposing players, he couldn't keep his balance properly, and the ball hit the back of his head rather than his forehead.
So a proper header was out of the question. The opposing goalkeeper looked relieved too? What a shame, the chance flew away.
"Hey!!!!"
"Huh?"
At the sudden shout, I turned my gaze.
What? Why are you yelling at me?
Thud!!!
"Kuk!"
There are two kinds of people in the world.
Those who make it.
And those who don't.
I was definitely one of those who didn't. But… at least today didn't seem to be that day.
I saw the large ball flying toward my face before I knew it, and I unconsciously thrust my face toward it.
Swish—!
"W-Wooooaaaah!!!!!!!!!!"
=T-Tie! Tie goaaaaal!!!!!!!!
=Lee Chang-ryong's headeeeeeer!!!!!!!!!!!!
=Suwon has scored!!!!!!!!
Who would have thought that would become a goal.
But.
=Player Lee Chang-ryong is showing tremendous concentration!
=He showed a miracle! Coach Lee Geon-il's tactical substitution definitely worked!
=Lee Chang-ryong lighting the flame of hope for Suwon FC!
Waaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lee Chang-ryong! Lee Chang-ryong!!!!!!
…For some reason, everyone seems to be under a strange misunderstanding.