Rising Star (2)
Rising Star (2)
066
"South Korea's attack continues. We are in the 27th minute of the second half. The score is 3:1, with South Korea in the lead, and Chae Gi-deok takes the ball!"
"Yes, Chae Gi-deok. This is his second start. Chae Gi-deok, who plays for Changwon in the second division, was one of the players who caused controversy after the roster announcement, right?"
"That's right. Although he was overshadowed by Hong Min-jun and Yoon-hyeok earlier, there was a lot of talk about him being included in the final roster despite only being called up to the national team once."
"However, Chae Gi-deok. He overcame it with his skills, just like Hong Min-jun and Yoon-hyeok. His start wasn't as good as those two, but he built up his sense by playing as a substitute in the group stage, and then performed well in the last group stage match against Morocco, which was his first start."
"That's right! Wow~ looking at it this way, our Coach Gong. He has a real talent for discovering rookies. Following Hong Min-jun and Yoon-hyeok, now Chae Gi-deok. Isn't he a Midas touch at this point?"
The broadcast covering the South Korea vs. Nigeria match was cheerful from start to finish.
It couldn't be helped, as the match had seen an early opening goal thanks to the collaboration of the two players selected as Wild Cards.
After Seol Yo-han, who had overlapped up to the vicinity of Nigeria's penalty box, delivered a low and fast cross, Oh Pyo-sik lightly changed its direction in the middle with a sensational shot that shook the net, and the Korean team had been on the offensive against Nigeria ever since.
"Coach Gong is truly an extraordinary person. To think he recognized our Min-jun and picked him just like that."
Hong Min-jun's mother, Kang Hae-mi, clapped while looking at Gong Jeon-seong, the middle-aged man with a prickly impression captured on TV.
Although her son had been called a genius the moment he started soccer, a long slump began when he entered high school.
For the couple who, until his middle school days, had been debating whether he would start in the pros or in Europe, their son's slump was a shock.
"Ahem. Don't say useless things that might bring bad luck. If he just quietly polishes his skills, opportunities will naturally come."
"No, what is this man saying? Where do opportunities come from just by waiting these days? Even opportunities that come will run away. These days are the era of self-PR. Right, Da-ye?"
The couple, who run a small fruit store in Gangwon-do, only realized the reality after their son fell into a slump.
When he was famous as a genius, they didn't have to worry about bribes or gifts and could just watch their son play with a light heart, but after the slump began, they finally realized how difficult it is to live as the 'parents of an athlete'.
The couple felt deeply sorry that they hadn't been able to be a source of strength when their son was struggling.
"It's okay. Min-jun doesn't even need to step up himself anymore."
At Yoon Da-ye's calm voice, Kang Hae-mi let out a sigh of relief.
"Is that so? Phew, that's a relief. I'm very reassured just having our Da-ye here. I worry a lot because our Min-jun is a kid who only knows soccer, but Da-ye takes good care of him."
"Of course. Don't worry."
"Ah, that person, really. Da-ye will handle it, won't she? Look, she's a Hojin University student, a Hojin University student. On top of that, a full scholarship student! She's a genius receiving a scholarship from Hojin University, so she'll handle it, won't she."
At father Hong Gyeong-sik's words, Yoon Da-ye covered her mouth with her hand as if troubled and smiled demurely.
"Oh, my. No, Mister. Min-jun, who is active as a national player, is even more amazing."
"Ahem, what do you mean 'Mister'? It makes the listener sad, what is this 'Mister' business. It's fine to call me like before."
"Yes, Father. Min-jun, he must be tired after the Olympics, so I should make him something delicious."
"Ahem. No need to start playing the supportive wife already. I, his father, know, and this person knows, that that guy is a fool who only knows how to play soccer, so Da-ye, you take good care of him."
"Oh my. They say a father-in-law's love is for his daughter-in-law. Sparks are flying, sparks are flying."
"Ahem!"
Yoon Da-ye, who had been smiling demurely while watching the two bicker, turned her gaze back to the TV screen.
Hong Min-jun's face, drenched in sweat with a more exhausted expression than usual, was being zoomed in on.
'He's handsome... That's strange. It's a face I've been seeing since long ago, but why does he look so handsome lately?'
When she was tilting her head, Hong Min-jun, who had the ball, showed off a flashy individual skill once again.
"Hong Min-jun! Hong Min-jun has the ball!!"
"It's Hong Min-jun! The Nigerian players surround him in an instant! But they can't easily rush in!"
"Yes, how many times have they been broken through after rushing in rashly? The Nigerian players, they're scared of Hong Min-jun right now!"
"He's hesitating as if he's about to dash! Ah, our Hong Min-jun is amazing! He's actually pressuring the 2 Nigerian players in front of him!!"
"He looks like his stamina is dropping, right? This time, rather than a breakthrough, he'll pass... He's going in! Hong Min-jun kicks the ball long and dives in instantly!!"
"Oh my! Oh my, oh my!"
"Shoot! He should shoot!"
Unlike the two people who were restless while watching TV, Yoon Da-ye watched Hong Min-jun on the screen calmly.
The scene passed where the player actually in the game was calmly dodging defenders while the people watching were making more of a fuss,
"It's a chance! Hong Min-jun, Hong Min-jun, shoot!!"
The moment Hong Min-jun's shot regrettably missed the side of the goal, sighs erupted from the caster and commentator.
The community atmosphere was similar too.
—Hong Min-jun God Min-jun King God General Hong Min-jun!!
—Yup~ broke through again~ Nigeria can't do anything~?
ㄴYup~ the pressure from those black guys is useless~
—Hong Min-jun is playing like he's on a Simmons mattress alone
ㄴWhat do you mean?
ㄴHe's dodging them as comfortably as if he's in his own house.
—Ah, damn, that's a shame.
ㄴPerilla leaf difference
ㄴNanometer difference
ㄴHexo difference
—He's been doing everything else damn well since earlier, but the finish is a shame.
—Did Hong Min-jun score?
ㄴOnly got 1 assist.
ㄴMissed damn narrowly twice.
ㄴSince when was 1 assist in the Olympics 'only' lololol.
ㄴAhem, that is the dignity of Hong Min-jun.
—But why does he look so tired today;; he looks damn exhausted.
ㄴHong Min-jun isn't a player with good stamina to begin with~
ㄴHow do you know?
ㄴDun?no.
—Shouldn't they sub him out? He's panting like crazy.
ㄴF*ck, even while panting he's more handsome than me.
ㄴCompare things that can be compared;;
—Isn't Hong Min-jun's face already world-class?
ㄴWorld-class? He's a Ballon d'Or winner.
ㄴGotta give him the GOAT title f*ck lol.
—But do you guys know this while posting on the gallery?
ㄴ??
ㄴIf things go well in the semi-finals, we might face Japan lol.
ㄴBS, Japan is playing Italy right now, what kind of nonsense.
ㄴThe performance is neck and neck right now.
ㄴIt's neck and neck lol Italy destroyed like a dog.
—Oh f*ck, we're screwed, Oh Pyo-sik collapsed.
—Those black guys are playing so dirty.
—Crazy, they're tackling aiming for the ankle.
—Sons of b*tches are playing so rough, seriously.
Beep!! Beep!!
The Nigerian players, who were trailing South Korea 3:1, became increasingly rough.
Then, in the 33rd minute of the second half.
Oh Pyo-sik, who had the ball in the danger zone in front of the penalty box, succeeded in a feint against the defender blocking his front.
While the defender who lost balance was hesitating, Oh Pyo-sik pushed forward, and the defender who followed late committed a back tackle, rolling on the ground together.
The referee declared a penalty, but Oh Pyo-sik could not get up.
As Oh Pyo-sik rolled around holding his ankle, the Nigerian players forcibly grabbed and pulled his uniform, and after continued rough play, a casualty occurred, and the Korean players, who were highly agitated, confronted them, escalating the situation into a fight.
"F*ck!! Isn't the referee bribed!? They committed a dirty back tackle, why are you pulling out a card on us, you bastard!!"
"Referee!! Hey, referee!! Why!? Why!?"
"Senior! Calm down! Calm down, Senior!!"
"What are you doing, not stopping them! Everyone, stop them!"
"You're too excited, calm down!"
In the end, Oh Pyo-sik was substituted after signaling he could no longer play, and midfielder Kim Dae-seong, who had been protesting fiercely, received a red card and was sent off.
It was about 5 minutes later that the atmosphere calmed down and the game resumed.
"Haa, haa."
"Are you okay?"
The Korean national team, which had to use all its substitution cards due to Oh Pyo-sik's unexpected injury and the red card, could not substitute Hong Min-jun, who clearly had no stamina left, and Hong Min-jun, who was always substituted at the end of the second half for stamina management, recorded a full-time appearance for the first time in that Olympic match.
The result was a 3:1 victory for South Korea.
It was a feat to advance beyond the quarterfinals to the semifinals, but Oh Pyo-sik, who had been doing his part as the center of the attack as a Wild Card, ended his Olympics due to injury, and Kim Dae-seong, who had been in charge of the team's waist with active movements in the center, received a red card, making him unable to play in the next match.
Two starting players were missing for the most important semifinal match for winning a medal.
To make matters worse, the next opponent was—
"Congratulations to everyone on advancing to the semifinals. You know that if we win the next game, we get a medal, right? For you guys, military service exemption is more of an interest than the medal, you rascals."
"Ayy~ You know us too well, Coach."
"Let's go for the medal!!"
"Let's go for the exemption!!"
"Senior, it's not an exemption, it's a special case."
"Ah, Italy is a bit tough."
Although there was an unfortunate incident, a win is a win. Gong Jeon-seong clapped while watching the players who had succeeded in advancing to the semifinals chatting.
"Pay attention. Since we wasted 5 minutes fighting with the Nigerian players, the result on the other side came out first."
"Did Italy win?"
"Of course Italy won, you brat. Coach, by how many goals did they win?"
"It's the opposite. Japan won."
"...Yes? Then...?"
"That's right. The semifinal opponent is Japan."
The next opponent was none other than Japan.
Meanwhile, Yoon-hyeok, who was leaving the ground after the game ended, looked around.
'Where is this bastard Hong Min-jun?'
From the day after the round of 16 ended, Hong Min-jun, who had tasted the 'Play Life' village with Seol Yo-han and Yoon-hyeok, had been busy chasing women until the day before the quarterfinal match against Nigeria.
Hong Min-jun, who had been meeting women secretly, was caught the day before the match.
Gong Jeon-seong, who was checking the players' condition, discovered Hong Min-jun with a hollow face and trembling legs, and interrogated him, and thus the three men's Oath of the Peach Garden met its doom in just 4 days.
'You should have done it in moderation, ah!!'
When the enraged coach asked how many he had met, seeing his dark circles down to his chin and his trembling legs, he said he met 7 on the first day, 5 on the second, 6 on the third, and 3 on the last day.
'Crazy stud bastard.'
The reason he showed less stamina than usual in today's match was all because of this.
Yoon-hyeok, who had been scolded together as a set, was suddenly put in charge of monitoring Hong Min-jun, and even now that the game was over, he found him muttering to himself while looking around for the guy.
'Huh? What is he muttering about?'
As he crept up behind him, he heard Hong Min-jun's voice.
"I will absolutely awaken Play Life today without any side effects, conditions, or price, and the Play Life ability will never disappear, and no one can snatch the Play Life ability away. ...F*ck, why isn't my Play Life app popping up? I want to get my stamina super strong like Seong Yu-jin too."
"......."
Should I kill this bastard.