As South Korea's captain, Son Heung-min makes a point of sharing the credit for the team's successes and shouldering the blame for failures, and the flying forward did both after Tuesday's impressive win over Colombia.
Without a goal for the national team since June, when he sprinted from the halfway line to slot home into an empty German net at the World Cup, Son delivered one of his best performances in a Korean shirt as the home side saw off FIFA's 12th-ranked team in a friendly in Seoul.
Scoring the opener with a ferocious right-foot shot from inside the box, Son was a constant menace to the Colombian defence, his pace and movement giving the Koreans the perfect out-ball during periods of sustained pressure.
The 26-year-old, who now has 24 goals in 79 international appearances, said he felt his personal struggles in front of goal has been talked about more than the team's recent good run under Portuguese coach Paulo Bento.
The Koreans have won nine of their 14 games under Bento, who took over after the World Cup, their only defeat coming in the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup to eventual champions Qatar.
'I felt like I was being a distraction to the rest of the team, because people kept mentioning my name when talking about the national team,' he said after the game. 'I couldn't have scored the goal today without the sacrifices of my team mates.'
Son has mostly been used as a winger at international level but has been asked to play a more central role in Bento's experimental 4-4-2 formation against Colombia and Bolivia last Friday.
While he did not find the net against the Bolivians, Son was at the heart of Korea's most dangerous moves before substitute Lee Chung-yong popped up with a late winner in a 1-0 victory. Son said he would play anywhere to help the team.
'For my club, I've played both as a striker in a two-forward setting and as a winger,' he said. 'No matter where the coach puts me, my job is to do the best I can in that position. I think it's important for me to keep playing the way I did today. That kind of consistency will help the national team and myself as a player.'
Sioekmrsuz
0
new formation new coach cant be easy for Colombia!
Gloriouser
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Japan and Korea Good Team in ASIA. Colombia Good Game and Succes in Copa America 💕
millmer
1
Korea number 7 is so fantastic...
jeersure
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Actually it was a tough match , and Columbia tested the new team members then we just tested best numbers. Anyway Columbia was so strong. But throwing medical box was not good.
Robersonsol
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Congratulations Korea. Huge respect from Japan. Amazing 2 victory againt Colombia. You've shown genuine strength.
wildcaterdo
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Colombia played wonderfully in the second half. If it wasn't for the korean goalkeeper, perhaps the best result would be to draw. But Falcao surely needs to learn some manners. I think many South American players have a quick temper and tend to think that what they have done during the match isn't anything against their counterparts due to being very macho, but their approach is sometimes very aggressive and unyielding, which somehow frustrates me. I hate players who always fall down on the ground and Koreans are one of the harshest and roughest players if anyone watched the last world cup, but man! Colombian players really play tough!
really36
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I like Columbian aggressive soccer
Erlang
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Falcao has no manner... why did he throw first-aid kit away into the ground? That was terrible behavior!! And I am so happy that Korea beats Colombia again👍
outdoor
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Goalkeeper who had too much oily hands
dangerou
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Colombia is a solid team. It was a tough match. It was like a world cup match rather than a friendly match. Greetings from South Korea
erroneous
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this Colombian keeper was a disaster
zhaon
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Korea very organized colombia a tear of a team and the shadow of better times wake up already we have far to go
quaooma
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I used to have a good impression on Colombia when I was there however One player's pathetic manner is very disppointing.
Colinkong
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Finally we found the Colombian Karius.
Lincolns
1
son is the best player in asia.
Jerry53
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Son Heung Min impressive as always
Alaskas
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A top professional.
Sedaors
0
Son is a one month wonder in premier League
What a plonker, and from someone who’s top scorer is a camel worrier 😂😂😂😂
RespectWhamen
1
Son is a one month wonder in premier League
jzk
1
Klopp telling Zidane and perez why don't you include Son in Your Mission Impossible project
Sopaid01
1
Nice