Ji So-Yeon surpasses Son Heung-Min…the race for most A-Match free-kick goals just got interesting
“Jimesh” Ji So-yeon (Seattle Lane) scored his seventh free-kick goal in his A-match career, beating Son Heung-min (Tottenham) to No. 1 in this category.
Ji So-yeon scored a free-kick goal in the 31st minute of the second half in an A-match warm-up match against the Philippines at Icheon Stadium on the 5th.
In the 31st minute of the second half, when Choi Yu-ri (Birmingham City WFC) led 1-0 with the first goal, Ji So-yeon did not miss the free-kick opportunity she got from the left side.
Due to the free-kick position, it was worth aiming for a set piece score such as a header following a free-kick toward the gate rather than a direct shot.
However, Ji So-yeon’s right-footed free kick aimed at the far post turned over both the goalkeeper and the opposing defense, hit the post and was sucked into the goal.
As a result, Ji So-yeon rose to first place in this category with her seventh free-kick goal in A matches, the most among Korean male and female players.
According to the Korea Football Association, Ji So-yeon and Son Heung-min have been tied for first in A-match free-kick scoring with six goals, but Ji So-yeon took a step ahead with the free-kick scoring on the day.
Ji So-yeon previously scored a free-kick against China in the 2010 East Asian Cup, Japan in the 2013 East Asian Cup, Australia in the 2019 friendly, Myanmar at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, and Czech Republic in February.
However, Son Heung-min also recently showed off his sense of free-kick goal, including a dramatic reversal free-kick winning goal against Australia in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in February, so the competition between the two representing Korean men’s and women’s soccer is expected to continue more excitingly.
Meanwhile, the women’s national team, led by coach Colin Bell of England, defeated the Philippines 3-0 with consecutive goals by Choi Yu-ri, Ji So-yeon, and Jang Seul-ki (Gyeongju KHNP WFC).
To welcome the Philippines (20th in Korea), which is ranked 39th in the FIFA rankings, Korea used a 3-4-3 formation with Casey Eugene Fair (Angel City) at the forefront and Cheon Garam (Hwacheon KSPO) and Ji So-yeon at both sides. Ji was at the center of the attack, moving back and forth from the side to the center.
Cho So-hyun (Birmingham) and Jang Seul-ki worked together in the midfield, while Choo Hyo-joo (Incheon Hyundai Steel) and Lee Eun-young (Changnyeong WFC) played 카지노사이트 the role of wingbacks. Shim Seo-yeon (Suwon FC), Ko Yu-na (Hwacheon KSPO), and Lee Young-joo (Madrid CFF) took charge of the defense line, while Jungmi Kim (Hyundai Steel) took charge of the goal.
The outcome was decided in the second half. Korea, which attempted 12 shots in the first half alone but failed to produce results, managed to break the balance by Choi Yu-ri, who was substituted at the start of the second half, at the 28th minute of the second half. He did not miss a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper after intercepting the opponent team’s back pass mistake.
South Korea, which broke the frustrating balance, later widened the gap with Ji So-yeon’s free-kick goal, and in the 43rd minute of the second half, Jang Seul-ki tried to shoot with Moon Mi-ra’s heel pass, and pushed the ball back after being blocked by the goalkeeper.
With this victory, Korea continued to win all five matches against the Philippines in the history of women’s soccer. Korea will have its second warm-up match against the Philippines at the same venue at 7 p.m. on Saturday.