Son Heung-min scores seven goals in latest six games

Son Heung-min, South Korea’s star football player, is apparently in superb form ahead of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

The 26-year-old footballer who plays for the Tottenham Hotspur started the English FA Cup third round match against Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park stadium in Birkenhead on Saturday (Korea time). At the start of the second half, Son set up two goals while he himself scored one on 12 minutes. Taking an active role in Spurs’ 7-0 victory, Son has earned seven goals and five assists in the latest six matches.

The upcoming Asian Cup holds significance for the South Korean player, who helped the national team of South Korea win a gold medal at the Jakarta-Palembang 2018 Asian Games, as the Taegeuk Warriors are aiming to clinch a victory for the first time in 59 years. This would be the third Asian Cup for Son, and expectations are high for his performance this time.

When he first took part in the AFC Asian Cup held in January 2011 in Qatar, Son was 19 years old. As he first appeared in the international A match in a warm-up match with Syria on Dec. 30, 2010, the 2011 Asian Cup was basically the first international game that Son participated. By playing in the first round with Bahrain, he became the youngest field player (being 18 years and 186 days old) to compete in the Asian Cup.

Four years later, the South Korean footballer showed much enhanced skills in the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia. Chosen as a key player, Son scored two goals in the quarterfinals against Uzbekistan and one in the final against Australia, backing the national team to finish runners-up. Joining the Tottenham Hotspur in August that year, Son has also proved his value in the English Premier League, showing more mature performances and serving as an ace football player of South Korea.

Son is set to join the national team led by Paulo Bento after the EPL game against the Manchester United next Monday. South Korea is scheduled to clash with China in the third round of group match on next Wednesday, but if the Taegeuk Warriors live up to expectations in the first and second rounds, Son may not join Wednesday’s game to stay in good condition.


Seung-Kun Lee why@donga.com