Became a World-Class Striker
Episode 9: Set Piece
Watching it again in slow motion, it was truly exquisite. No matter how much it was Suwon Samsung's mistake, could the play really have unfolded like this? It was the kind of scene that made you wonder.
And it was no wonder, since the ball took spin and rolled to I Changryong. And the Suwon Samsung players had exquisitely become a screen, obstructing the goalkeeper's vision.
Coincidence, truly… a great coincidence. Yet that goal had been strangely, bizarrely cool. I Changryong's shot targeting the gap, struck half a beat faster with his dominant right foot. And the Suwon Samsung goalkeeper, frozen stiff by that shot… to the soccer fans cheering on Suwon FC, it was an incredibly exciting scene.
That was why people thought I Changryong looked so incredible.
"Waaah! Crazy, crazy I Changryong!"
"He scores from there!"
"It was a shame he couldn't score in the match against Incheon, but he showed his true skill today!"
"I Changryong is the only one Suwon FC can trust now."
I Changryong! I Changryong! I Changryong!
Before anyone knew it, they had begun cheering, shouting I Changryong's name.
Should I call it a reputation created by one misunderstanding after another? It was rising hotly in the fans' veins right now, as if injected with pure hype.
Of course.
'Sigh. If I had missed, I would have been totally screwed.'
The protagonist himself was wiping his chest in relief, thinking that if he had missed the opportunity that had come his way, he would have gotten an earful of curses from the fans.
* * *
'I really am lucky.'
That was the thought that came after scoring. Honestly, with the angle falling so prettily like that, anyone could have taken a shot and put the ball in the net.
'It's just that since it was me, the situation looks a certain way, heheh....'
The opponent's mistake, the spin, and even the obstruction of the opposing keeper's vision—truly, it was a goal where all three elements aligned perfectly.
But would such luck continue forever? Honestly, he thought that was impossible. Just like in the Incheon match.
But he felt he had gained something even greater than luck. And that was… he could tell by the players' expressions right now.
Clap clap!
"There's still a lot of time left! Let's tie it up!!"
"Let's get our heads in the game and go for it!"
'Everyone harbored hope and desire for victory. Really… they think we can win.'
That goal made by coincidence.
Or rather, the goal I made.
'With this?'
There was no doubt that the Suwon FC players' expressions and mindsets had changed completely. There was something burning so hotly that you could feel it even up close.
=As we entered the latter half of the second half, around the 20-minute mark, the flow of the game changed.
=Is it because a goal went in? The Suwon Samsung players are looking a little impatient.
That was certainly true.
Tah!
"Hoo, hoo!"
"Stop theeeeem!!!!!!"
Swoosh!
"Kuhk!"
"Nice tackle!"
Beep!
=The ball hits his foot and goes out of bounds. It was a clean tackle. Suwon Samsung's throw-in attack—
=They're hurrieeed— a little rushed. The Suwon Samsung players.
Being down by one goal. Perhaps because they were conscious of that, there was a sense of urgency in the Suwon Samsung players' movements. The feeling that they needed to widen the gap again and break their spirits… was that it?
But the Suwon FC players weren't intimidated by that movement at all. Rather, fire ignited in their eyes, pupils wide and blazing.
"Push them back!"
"Go, don't lose heart!"
I was the same. Watching the Suwon FC players running and falling, repeating those motions, my heart burned for no reason. Was this what it meant to be a team?
'I don't care if it's luck. We need an equalizer. I have to make it an equalizer!'
* * *
'Does this even make sense?'
Sports are a battle of mentality. I Areumdaun was a Suwon Samsung player who knew that much, but he wasn't too pleased with the current situation.
The brace he had scored early in the first half.
His plan, which had been to aim for a hat trick in the second half based on those goals, had been ruined. All because of that one 'goal'.
'He was called I Changryong, right? Last season, he showed an unremarkable run, but....'
Thanks to that, he glared intently at the protagonist who had scored the goal, I Changryong. He couldn't imagine that the player with an expression that looked ordinary at best, nearly sleepy, was the protagonist of that brilliant goal just moments ago.
'It's only served to raise Suwon FC's morale. I have to change the flow somehow!'
"Areumdaun!"
"!"
Tah!
"St-stop him!!!!!!!!!"
=Player I Areumdaun receives the pass and drives straight through the center!
=Woah— look at that dribble! He got past one— and he's trying to get past another!
=It's a fantastic movement!
Called by name, he began to run instinctively. And catching the ball that rolled across the grass from a smooth through pass, he advanced leisurely, tapping it lightly.
A beautiful first touch.
But from Suwon FC's perspective, they couldn't just watch that elegant sight. The defenders ran frantically, trying to close him down.
Kuhng!
"Kruk—"
"...Hoo! Hoo!"
They tried reaching out to stop him, but player I Areumdaun, displaying his considerable experience, held firm with solid core strength.
'The angle!!'
And he fired a shot toward the empty goal net between the defenders.
"Heup!"
Pbbaarrrrr!
=Shootiiiiiing straight!!!!!!!!!!!
But then.
Peoljjak!
Paang!
"!"
=He saved it!!!!!!!
=Displaying a god-like save, Suwon FC's goalkeeper I Yuchan!!
=Wow, he probably couldn't see well because of the defenders. It was most likely an instinctive movement.
=Player I Yuchan also has the experience of having played goalkeeper for a long time. It was a splendidly struck shot, but it's a shame. Player I Areumdaun.
=And they earn a Suwon Samsung corner kick.
"Haa… haa...."
"...Damn it."
Player I Areumdaun gently shook his head and looked at goalkeeper I Yuchan, who was catching his breath with an expression of disbelief.
Come to think of it, the two had many things in common. They were each the oldest player on their team.
'A captain-like save. Was it luck? No, I was a bit hasty too. Because it looked like the angle was open....'
'I Areumdaun, I won't let you score again after your first-half brace. I block your left foot.'
Because they were the team captains. Both knew the weight of the armband wrapped around their left arms.
"Nice one, Yuchan hyung! That save was insane."
"Try to keep blocking him well. If you let that player loose, there's no stopping him."
"Got it. Still, it's reassuring to have a solid guardian of the goal."
"Heh… is that so. Alright, alright! Don't block the view and get into position in the box properly!! Prepare for the corner kick!!"
At the captain's thunderous roar, the Suwon FC players took up their prepared positions inside the box. The opponent's corner kick, the right flag fluttering… After catching his breath, a Suwon Samsung player looked at the ball and kicked it in one go—pung!
Then.
Pat!
Deopseok!
"Hoo!"
Goalkeeper I Yuchan confirmed the trajectory and caught it with a light jump.
"Go forwarddddd!!!"
Hwik!!
"Uwaah!!"
=The Suwon FC players push their line up! They're trying to continue the attack quickly. The player who received the ball is Yang Hyeok!
Along with the command to advance, he threw the ball far, and the ball, flying in a parabola, reached midfielder Yang Hyeok precisely.
'Nice, captain!'
Thuk-
"Hoo! Hoo!"
Tadadat!
"Run!!!!!!"
"He's fast!"
=The Suwon Samsung players run quickly to guard their empty backfield!
At that sight, the Suwon Samsung players, including I Areumdaun who was up front, attempted quick movements for the transition between offense and defense.
It was the 29th minute of the second half.
* * *
"Hoo! Hoo!"
Tatat-
As Yang Hyeok hyung ran quickly, I too ran quickly while checking my surroundings from my first-line position straddling the opponent's line. Straddling the line dangerously, the opposing defenders were conscious of me, marking the space, and yet not knowing what choice Yang Hyeok hyung would make, they kept glancing back while running.
'Will hyung pass to me?'
The possibility was very high. For one, Yang Hyeok hyung did not see me as the old I Changryong these days. But Yang Hyeok hyung could also kick the ball himself.
In fact, excluding Jason, the one who had scored the most field goals last season was Yang Hyeok hyung. He was a midfielder with an offensive inclination and was more than capable of finishing.
Because he took pride in his own shooting, he had felt displeased when people called me a hero early on.
Anyway, there were various options, but rather, I strongly wished that Yang Hyeok hyung would finish it himself.
"Hoo! Hoo!"
"Kraaah!"
Kwung!
"!"
"Kheuk!"
S-see that. That composure of not shaking even when an opposing defender barged into him. He had the ability to move the ball near the box and finish it himself!
And above all.
'I… somehow feel like I'm being heavily marked right now.'
"Huuk! Huuk!"
"Mark I Changryong!!!!!!"
"The ball's going! The ball!"
'...Damn it. I'm not that big of a threat. This is a waste of manpower.'
They were checking me from both sides, so no gaps were visible. Even if a pass came to me, a direct shot would obviously be impossible.
Ah, of course, a truly outstanding player would receive that pass and break free from the leech-like markers clinging to me with a fantastic dribble before taking a shot, but who was I? I was I Changryong, who had been perpetually benched and only lately, somehow through luck, started scoring goals.
I couldn't believe in myself. Truly, sadly so.
It was while I was thinking that.
"Changryong!"
'Holy!'
Teoreong-------! Degururu-
Is this for real?
This hyung ended up passing to me after all. Did he expect me to shake off the opposing defenders and show off a picturesque curling shot? Unfortunately, hyung... I can't do that.
Teop-
'Hoo— I received it, but.'
=Player I Changryong has properly received player Yang Hyeok's pass!
=Is he looking for an angle while running? But two opposing defenders are blocking his path and obstructing his vision.
=Aha!
Teoreong!
'Yeah, quick pass back.'
"!"
No matter how much I thought about it, a shot was impossible. Even though I was near the box, I had no confidence in getting past the two players in front of me. Looking closely, a shooting angle had opened up for Yang Hyeok hyung too. Thinking so, I passed back to Yang Hyeok hyung, and he looked at me with a surprised expression for a brief moment.
'Hyung, I just don't want to ruin the crucial moment. Please understand, even if it seems selfless.'
Probably… he had judged that I would take the shot. Anyway, thanks to that, the ones surprised were the Suwon Samsung players. Naturally, thinking that the main gun—me—would finish it, they had thoroughly closed off the space, yet the ball went back to Yang Hyeok.
"The other way! The other way!"
"Eit!"
Thanks to that, the Suwon players also turned their bodies to look at Yang Hyeok….
Teoreong-!
"!"
"!"
Hearing the sound, I doubted for a moment. No way, I thought.
'Huh?'
And when I looked to the side.
"Hoo—"
'Ah.'
I saw Yang Hyeok hyung passing the ball as it was and nodding his head. An instantaneous pass. That pass deceived the space behind the Suwon Samsung defender who had turned his gaze and changed direction, and reached my foot once more.
Teop-
An unintentional give-and-go.
But I… I'm near the box right now?
"Stop him, what are you doing!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
'This… works?'
Infiltrating the box.
'One-two—'
And trying to put power into my right foot to match the timing.
"Hooooop!!!!!!"
Pbbaeng------!!!!!!!!!!
* * *
When Yang Hyeok first gave the ball to I Changryong, he had been certain. That the current I Changryong would deceive the opponent with the skill he had shown in Seoul and smash in a goal.
But then.
Teoreong-
'He's passing it back?'
At the returning pass, Yang Hyeok was initially surprised and slightly opened his mouth. But that was only for a moment.
'Ah! He's aiming for the space behind!'
Teoreong!
He understood I Changryong's pass perfectly and immediately pushed the pass back again. Thanks to that, the completed perfect yet coincidental give-and-go pierced the opponent's gap.
=I Changryong passing Yang Hyeok's pass back again!
=I Changryong! Back to Yang Hyeok again— Aaah!!!!
=They pierced the gap!! The ball rolling as if slipping between the Suwon Samsung defenders was snatched right up by player I Changryong.
=Inside the box! The goalkeeper has eventually rushed out to narrow the angle! I Changryong! I Changryong! I Changryooooong!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pbbaarrrr!
And I Changryong's attempted shot.
Despite the dedication of the Suwon Samsung goalkeeper who had rushed out to narrow the angle….
Cheolleong-!
"!"
"Hooah—"
Waaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Woooaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
=Goooooooal!!!!!!! I Changryong's multi-goooooal!!!!!!!
=I Changryong who gifts a second goal to Suwon Samsung!!!! Eventually creating a 2:2 tie!
=Truly amazing! Player I Changryong!
In the end, the ball passed through the goalkeeper's hands and was sucked straight into the goal.
Thud! Thud!
"Damn it!"
Furious, the Suwon Samsung goalkeeper pounded the grass with his fists, and the defenders who had been deceived by the instantaneous give-and-go opened their mouths with dejected expressions.
And.
[Suwon FC 2:2 Suwon Samsung Bluewings]
At the score that had become balanced.
Waaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The fans cheered, hugging each other and jumping up and down. I Changryong, who had scored, quickly ran to get the ball inside the goal and headed toward the center circle, and at that sight, everyone applauded and shouted I Changryong.
"I Changryong! I Changryong!"
"I Changryong! I Changryong!"
At that thunderous sound, I Changryong exhaled a short breath and spread a faint smile across his face.
=Wow, it's a truly amazing goal.
=In the 34th minute of the second half, player I Changryong created the equalizer, bringing Suwon FC to a balanced 2:2 score.
=Player I Changryong was good, but Yang Hyeok was also excellent.
=It's probably the result of practicing for a long time, isn't it?
=It must be. Because it matched up so perfectly.
=Hahaha. Director I Geonil eventually got up from his seat and ran a bit, haha.
=He seems to have been very happy.
=Well, the match isn't over yet. We can't predict how the situation will turn now.
* * *
There was literally no time to celebrate. He came to his senses, picked up the ball inside the goal, and ran to the center circle, and in that moment, he checked the slightly despairing expressions of the Suwon Samsung players.
Two goals in a row. And to think they had been scored on by Suwon FC, who had just been promoted to the first division—their feelings must have been complicated.
=Now, the kickoff begins and the match proceeds again.
=I really don't know how this will turn out.
=The managers of both teams have finally gotten up from their seats. We can see Director I Geonil lifting a water bottle.
=No wonder his throat is dry.
It was a match so unpredictable that the managers of both teams rose from the bench. As time passed, incredibly tight scenes kept unfolding.
Especially Suwon FC—our team players really ran hard. That was why the Suwon Samsung players couldn't face us like they had in the first half.
And he definitely felt it.
Pbbaeng!
=Aah! I Areumdaun's shot goes wide of the goal!
"Uwaah!"
The impatience of the Suwon Samsung players. Thanks to that, Suwon FC was spending the second half in much better form than the first half. Of course, it wasn't entirely without problems.
Deolkeok!
"Heup!"
"Kheuk!"
"Ref! Ref!"
Bibibik-!
Wow, crazy. Did I just get marked and roll on the ground? It had been so long that I was bewildered, and when a teammate saw that and spoke to the referee, the referee sternly gave a verbal warning to the opposing player. Telling him not to make rough tackles.
'They're getting rougher with me. They're even cutting off the ball from reaching me entirely.'
Thanks to that, I couldn't properly receive a pass for several minutes.
'We're not getting into a proper attacking flow.'
That was the disappointing part. Finishing with a draw… it wouldn't be bad, but everyone had worked so hard until now… if it ended in a draw like this, it felt like the energy would drain away.
'Regular time is almost up now.'
=It's the 43rd minute of the second half. Regular time is almost over.
Time passed like that.
When regular time ended, there were 4 minutes of added time. The players of both teams looked visibly exhausted, and I was the same. My legs were trembling. I had trained hard, but I had run too much. I had also run more to avoid being a burden….
Still, thinking that I shouldn't lose focus, when the ball wasn't coming, I slapped my own cheeks hard with my palms. The slapping sounds rang out and my face turned red, but that didn't matter at all.
Right now, in this match, I wanted to win.
I know I'm a lacking player. But because I had a competitive spirit, I had lived as a striker until now.
It was at that time when both sides were at their wits' end.
=Player I Areumdaun! He finally gets the ball and quickly drives through the center! A pass right away!
=Another pass again! The Suwon players here!!
=Shootiiiiiing straight!!!!!!!!!!!
Was it that he couldn't lose either? Player I Areumdaun, showing the give-and-go that Yang Hyeok hyung and I had shown earlier, taking a shot near the box. He was certainly an amazing person. Running like that, and despite his age, he didn't easily show a tired expression.
'No!!!!!!!!'
Watching the ball fly, I shouted like that in my heart. And then.
Tung!!!!!!!
"!"
"!"
=Player Bak Chanseong! He blocked the ball with his head. Now, the ball to the side—it's connected with a pass right away. They're pushing it into the midfield.
=Now this is Suwon FC's attacking chance. There are 2 minutes left; this might be almost the last attack.
Waaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!
Woooaaaah!!!!!!!!!!
=They're running! Player Bak Wonu receives it right away. He passed the ball to Baek Yungi, who is far on the right.
=Good vision!
=We can see Yang Hyeok and I Changryong running while reading the situation.
=Now Baek Yungi runs along the right line. Aah, the Suwon Samsung defenders are no pushover.
=They stick to him until the end!
=Croooss!!!!!!!!
Teoreong!!!!!!!!
Aaaah------
Unfortunately, the cross was unsuccessful. Because a Suwon Samsung defender had jumped and headed the ball clear. The ball went out past the right goal line, and I moved my heavy steps at the fact that we had one more chance remaining.
=It's a Suwon FC corner kick.
=Now, this really seems like the last attack. There's only about a minute left.
=Suwon FC's goalkeeper I Yuchan is also coming up near the box.
=Suwon FC's last set piece attack… I wonder if it will succeed.
=The Suwon Samsung players must have been bewildered in many ways today. Suwon FC's fighting spirit rushing in desperately is really scary.
=But—ah, it seems there's a plan?
"Changryong!"
"?"
I tilted my head at Bak Wonu, who was preparing for the corner kick, but soon hardened my expression. Because he had raised his hand and gestured at me.
And I knew very well what it was, so I eventually approached near the corner flag and locked eyes with him.
Thanks to that, the Suwon Samsung players, sensing something was up, watched my back without letting down their guard.
"If I push a pass to you, can you lift it straight in?"
"...Why don't you just take it?"
"Your condition is good today. So I think you can do better than me."
"Don't you believe in me too much?"
Certainly.
The set piece practice where Bak Wonu passes near the right corner flag and I kick the ball toward the box was something we had been doing all season.
But mistakes came out often during practice, and I would shake my head, thinking, 'This won't work. Haha.' It was also a tactic the manager had said to use only when catching the opponent off guard.
'The opponent will probably think I'm going to dribble—it's a set piece tactic designed with that in mind…. But this guy believes in me too much?'
"Please. Changryong."
"...Sigh. Alright."
That serious expression. That expression saying he didn't want to lose. I eventually said I would do it. Wonu nodded and distanced himself, and I also gauged my surroundings and slightly pulled my foot back.
The opposing players probably had various thoughts. A corner kick as usual? Or some other adventurous move?
'Ah, screw it.'
The referee gave a look. It probably meant hurry up and take it. In the end, Wonu gave me a pass with a tap.
"A pass!"
"Get I Changryong!"
'The box—'
I kicked that ball straight with my right foot— lifting it into the box. Truly, a refreshingly flying ball. I instinctively realized it was a 'failure' and my mind went completely blank.
'It seems too straightforward?'
It felt like the goalkeeper would jump right out and catch it as it was. Was I blowing the last chance like this?
'I should apologize to the fans… for blowing the chance like this…. Should I write a handwritten apology letter? No, is that going too far? Hmm....'
It was while I was thinking that.
Tung-
'Huh?'
"Heok!"
I clearly saw.
The opposing player's head, jumping up to clear the ball. The scene where the ball grazed that head. It was a fleeting moment… but I took in this slow-motion-like instant with both eyes.
'The opposing defender… blocked the goalkeeper's vision! And a mistake—'
Cheolleong-!
Biiiiik!!!!!!!!!!!!
=Goooooooal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
=The ball touched the head of Suwon Samsung's I Chanyeol!
=He jumped high to defend, but in the end, the ball hit his head. An own goal by Suwon Samsung!
=It's a miracle! This is truly a miracle!!!
=I Changryong! He induced an own goal and created a great comeback!!!
=Suwon FC dramatically came from behind to defeat Suwon Samsung 3:2!
=Amazing. All three goals were created by player I Changryong!
=It's practically no different from a hat trick. Wow, scary, player I Changryong!
Waaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!
Woooaaaah!!!!!!!!!!
'This… works?'
Deopseok!
"Changryong! Changryong!!! You crazy bastaaard!!"
"Uh, uh… uh."
"You aimed for an own goal! I believed in you, damn it!"
"I, I… Mr. Bak Wonu… put me down… Yaaah!"
"Not letting go! Can't let go! Kuhahaha!"
Bak Wonu ran over from the corner with arms spread and lifted me up, and soon other players also ran over from afar like crazy, lifting me up with bright smiles. And not only that? The veteran manager I Geonil and the coaching staff over there on the bench also roared and came running to hug me.
"You rascal, let me give you a hug!"
"You finally did it!! Uwahaha!"
"Let me see your head, I need to hit it a few times at moments like this."
"Alright, alright, let's all lift him together!"
"Great!"
Huh? Huh?
Deolsseok!
"Hurrah! Hurrah!"
"I Changryong hurrah!!"
"Huh?"
"One more time, one, two, three!"
Beonjjeok!
"Hurrah!"
My body went whoosh— and was lifted. Then I lightly flew through the air a few times. Heol. I was being tossed in the air in a celebration I had never experienced before. I was so dazed I couldn't tell if it was a dream or reality, unable to laugh, and was tossed for quite a while.
And.
Bbeep— beep— beeeep—
=The match is over!!
At the sound of the final whistle, I could finally relax. We… had achieved victory.