Stars of LA, and the Korean Derby (vs Tottenham)

The heat of the American tour showed no sign of cooling.

After the Manchester United match, where he had physically crushed Pogba and Lukaku into the dirt, the name of the "monster rookie" Ma Gang-cheol had already spread across the entire United States. CMM Sports News looped his goal highlights endlessly, blaring the moniker "A New Beast from Asia."

But today's match carried a meaning far beyond that.

Around the stadium, the Taegeukgi waved in waves. Local Korean-Americans and fans who had flown in from Korea itself filled the stands until the place felt like Sangam World Cup Stadium transplanted onto American soil.

Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur.

And Ma Gang-cheol vs Shin Min-heung.

The so-called Korean Derby.

Thirty minutes before kickoff, in the tunnel, both teams lined up. Shin Min-heung, wearing Tottenham's white kit, spotted Gang-cheol and broke into a bright grin as he walked over.

"Whoa, look who it is. World star Ma Gang-cheol himself?"

"Come on, hyung. Just a little chrysalis trying to look tough in front of Asia's tiger."

Gang-cheol laughed and pulled Shin Min-heung into a light hug.

Shin Min-heung. Twenty-five years old. Already a double-digit scorer in the Premier League and the cornerstone of Tottenham—the face of Korean football. In his previous life, Gang-cheol had watched him on TV and idolized him without end.

Shin Min-heung clapped Gang-cheol hard on the back.

"Your body's gotten ridiculous. I saw the United game. When Lukaku bounced off you, I got chills."

"Grew it just to catch you, hyung."

"Oh? Look at that confidence. Too bad for you—I've got a few things to show today."

Shin Min-heung's eyes sparkled with mischief and steel. He was a competitor through and through. A junior rising was welcome, but on the pitch he would make the hierarchy crystal clear.

"Go easy on me. My bones will break."

"Quit the drama. After the match, jersey swap. There's a line forming, so I'm calling dibs."

The exchange was short, but a taut tension crackled between them. Watching from the side, Dele Alli and Harry Kane snickered.

"Hey, Sonny. That big guy's your junior? Looks more like the older brother."

"Watch yourself, Harry. Bump into him and you'll go flying too."

Peeeeeeep!

The referee's whistle blew, and the curtain rose on the Korean Derby.

Early on, Tottenham seized the initiative. Mauricio Pochettino's trademark ferocious high press. The Spurs players harassed City's buildup like mad dogs.

"Press! Higher!"

Under Pochettino's roar, Tottenham's DESK line—Dele Alli, Eriksen, Shin Min-heung, Kane—moved as one organism. Shin Min-heung in particular was in peak form.

Twelfth minute of the first half.

Tottenham counterattack. Eriksen whipped a diagonal long ball. Shin Min-heung exploded into a sprint.

Fast.

City right-back Kyle Walker closed, but Shin Min-heung's burst was sharper. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠He collected the ball at the left corner of the box—the so-called Shin Min-heung Zone.

He's going to curl it.

From the bench, Gang-cheol knew it by pure instinct. Stones narrowed the angle, but Shin Min-heung sold a dummy step-over and, half a tempo quicker, whipped a right-footed curler.

Whoooooosh—!

The ball painted a gorgeous arc, slipping past Ederson's fingertips into the far corner.

"Waaaaaaaaah!!"

The Korean fans ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the stands erupted. Shin Min-heung performed his signature "click" celebration, staring down an imaginary camera. Then he glanced toward Gang-cheol and tossed a wink.

See that? This is the EPL.

Gang-cheol snorted a laugh. The class really was different. But he wasn't cowed—his blood was boiling.

Hyung just called check, huh?

Then I've got to answer with checkmate.

Thirtieth minute of the first half.

City's counterpunch began. Today Gang-cheol lined up as right wing-forward, constantly clashing with left-back Ben Davies. Davies, wary of the physical mismatch, kept his distance—clearly coached that getting close meant getting bounced.

But Gang-cheol had more than just power.

Keep that space? Thanks.

Kevin De Bruyne took possession. Gang-cheol pointed a finger into the channel behind. From KDB's boot came a laser through-ball.

"Get him!"

Davies spun too late. Gang-cheol had already exploded off the mark. Explosive acceleration from that massive frame.

Thud-thud-thud-thud!

In a blink he blew past Davies. Tottenham center-back Vertonghen stepped across to cover. The Belgian was canny—he cut the lane early and drove a shoulder in.

Gang-cheol never slowed. He used the acceleration itself, slamming his own shoulder into Vertonghen's with a bone-jarring crack!

Laws of collision. Mass times acceleration equals destructive force.

"Urgh!"

Vertonghen staggered, balance gone. Gang-cheol surged into the box. Goalkeeper Lloris rushed out. Gang-cheol feinted the shot, then dragged the ball dead with the sole of his boot.

Lloris hit the turf. Perfect fake. Gang-cheol rolled the ball gently into the empty net.

"Yeaaaaah!!"

City fans roared. Gang-cheol started to mimic Shin Min-heung's "click" celebration, then switched mid-motion and flashed a grinning V-sign instead. Shin ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Min-heung shook his head, laughing in disbelief.

That cheeky bastard. He really answered with checkmate.

The match turned into a shootout. Fortieth minute of the first half: Harry Kane's header put Tottenham back in front (1–2). Tenth minute of the second half: Gabriel Jesus equalized again (2–2).

Then the thirty-fifth minute of the second half.

The decisive moment arrived. Both sides were gassed; defensive concentration frayed. Gang-cheol stood near the halfway line, catching his breath. The system flashed a warning.

One more...

Gang-cheol looked at Shin Min-heung. The senior was also bent over, hands on knees, yet his eyes still hunted for a goal.

Hyung's looking for one last shot too.

But today's mine.

Fortieth minute of the second half.

City counter. David Silva wriggled free of pressure and looked forward. Gang-cheol didn't raise a hand—he sent the signal with his eyes alone.

Now.

Silva's lofted pass. Gang-cheol ran. This time Tottenham's defensive anchor, Toby Alderweireld, stepped up. One of the Premier League's finest center-backs. Not easily beaten.

Gang-cheol didn't chest the aerial ball. Just before it bounced, he flicked it up with the outside of his right foot—a twisted, mutated rainbow lift. The ball arced gently over Alderweireld's head.

"What the—?!"

Alderweireld spun in panic. By then Gang-cheol had already slipped past his shoulder.

The ball never touched the ground. Gang-cheol met the dropping sphere with a pure non-stop volley. A cannonball strike.

BOOOOM!!

The shot screamed into the far corner before Lloris could even move. The net strained as if it might tear.

"Oh My God!!"

"Wonder Goal!!"

All sixty thousand in Nissan Stadium rose as one. A creative touch that made a world-class defender look foolish, followed by a perfect finish. Gang-cheol ripped off his jersey and roared. Muscles gleamed under the lights.

"I am Here!!"

Pep Guardiola clutched his head.

"That insane talent... he just pulled off something I never even taught him."

Five minutes remained. Tottenham threw everything forward. Shin Min-heung fought like a demon. Third minute of stoppage time. He collected the ball at the edge of the box—again the Shin Min-heung Zone.

Dangerous.

Gang-cheol sprinted back like a madman to defend. Shin Min-heung shaped to shoot. The defenders bought it. But Gang-cheol knew—hyung always stole half a beat on the shot from there.

The instant Shin Min-heung swung his left foot, Gang-cheol launched himself. Flesh-and-blood block.

Thud!

The ball smacked into Gang-cheol's back and deflected wide. Super save. Shin Min-heung slammed the turf in frustration.

"Aaaargh! You blocked that?!"

Gang-cheol staggered up, gasping, and flashed a thumbs-up.

"I know every trajectory of your shots by heart, hyung."

Peeeeeeep!

Full time. 3–2. Manchester City victory. And the winner of the Korean Derby was Ma Gang-cheol—two goals to one.

Someone offered a hand to Gang-cheol, sprawled on the grass. Shin Min-heung. Sweat-soaked face, smiling.

"Congrats, you monster."

"Hyung, you almost gave me a heart attack at the end."

They rose and embraced hard. Cameras everywhere captured the moment—the present and future of Korean football crossing paths in history.

Shin Min-heung peeled off his jersey and handed it over.

"Here. Like we promised."

"It's an honor."

Gang-cheol gave his own in return. Shin Min-heung draped the City shirt over his shoulder and leaned in to whisper.

"You know this, right? In the league I won't go easy."

"Same here. Golden Boot ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠race—look forward to it."

"Hahaha! Cheeky little punk. Fine. Try and catch me."

Shin Min-heung ruffled Gang-cheol's hair and headed for the tunnel. Watching that back, Gang-cheol clenched a fist. A senior he respected—and a wall he absolutely had to climb.

The system window appeared.

Master of Both Feet...

Gang-cheol's eyes widened. Shin Min-heung's greatest weapon—two-footed mastery. Only B-rank, yet obtaining it was a massive harvest. From now on, defenders would never know which foot he would use.

"Hey, Ma!"

Heading for the locker room, Pep called out. The manager's face was brighter than ever.

"You proved it."

"Told you you'd have to use me again."

Pep nodded.

"Right. Opening-day starting XI needs rewriting. Right wing is yours."

Gang-cheol grinned wide. He had done it. A fifteen-year-old Asian boy had claimed a starting berth on the Manchester City juggernaut.

But his gaze was already fixed on what came next.

Preseason was over.

Now the real war—the 2017–18 Premier League—loomed right before his eyes.