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| A match warm-up match between South Korea and Bolivia held at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on the 14th. Cho Kyu-sung is cheering after scoring his team's second goal in the second half. Daejeon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.11.14/ |
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| A match warm-up match between South Korea and Bolivia held at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on the 14th. South Korea won 2-0. Cho Kyu-sung is sharing joy with Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in. Daejeon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.11.14/ |
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| A match warm-up match between South Korea and Bolivia held at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on the 14th. Cho Kyu-sung is cheering after scoring his team's second goal in the second half. Daejeon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.11.14/ |
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The crisis of the player's life, it was a departure that no one expected. I can't tell you the agony of heart.
Cho Kyu-sung (27, Mit Willan), the icon of 'human victory', roared. He scored a breakaway goal in the 43rd minute of the second half with a 1-0 lead in a friendly match against Bolivia at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on the 14th. Kim Moon-hwan (30, Daejeon) overcame and protected the opponent's defensive contest with a low cross connected from the right side, and scored by pushing it in a falling situation.
It was Cho Kyu-sung's 10th goal in a year and 10 months since he scored his ninth A match in the round of 16 against Saudi Arabia at the Asian Cup in January last year. It's been a really long way back.
In May last year, he underwent a cartilage disc resection of his right knee meniscus. It was a relatively simple operation, and I rushed my knife to prepare for the new season. He could recover before the preseason. But fate was cruel. The surgical site was infected and complications were suffered.
He blew the 2024-2025 season. Usually, the rehabilitation period and the time to find normal condition are directly proportional. A year off is followed by pain for that period. Cho Kyu-sung was different. There was a lot of concern, but it was urgent early on.
He scored his first goal in the third round of the Denmark Cup on September 17 (Korean time). Three days later, he scored in the regular league, and on September 29, he scored in two consecutive regular league games.
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| A match warm-up match between South Korea and Bolivia held at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on the 14th. Cho Kyu-sung is scoring his team's second goal in the second half. Daejeon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.11.14/ |
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| A match warm-up match between South Korea and Bolivia held at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on the 14th. Cho Kyu-sung scored his team's second goal in the second half and is cheering with Kim Min-jae. Daejeon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.11.14/ |
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Coach Hong returned as the head coach of the A team for the first time in 10 years in July last year, but he had no relationship with Cho Kyu-sung due to injury. But the string didn't let go. Hong did not recruit Cho Kyu-sung last month.
It was decided that there was no need to overdo it. "The player's knee condition is not yet long enough to fly and prepare for the game." However, they continued to send foreign coaches residing in Europe to check Cho Kyu-sung. And opinions were gathered that it was time to check it with your own eyes. Hong flew to Denmark on the 25th of last month.
Cho Kyu-sung responded. After being silent in the 11th and 12th rounds, he restarted his goal bombing against Fredericia, where head coach Hong visited the scene on the 26th of last month. It was his fourth goal of the season. He also played his first full time since returning from injury. Coach Hong met with Cho Kyu-sung in Denmark, and there was no need to delay his return.
It was the first time in a year and eight months since the second Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup in March last year. However, Hong was worried. Excessive motivation to show something can be poisonous. They can also be exposed to injuries. The pressure and pressure of Jo Kyu-sung?He lowered his expectations to a great extent.
"Cho Kyu-sung seems to have recovered a lot from his physical side to some extent," Hong said. However, in terms of the sense of the game, it is not yet complete. "I selected him because I thought it would be too late in March next year, and that the national team should play a role in helping the players at this time." I hope you understand that it's a step to get rid of the gloomy times and find a good condition."
And "I think you know all about the characteristics of the constitutionality. But I don't want you to expect too much this time," he stressed. It was a request with deep affection.
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| A match warm-up match between South Korea and Bolivia held at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on the 14th. When Cho Kyu-sung scored his team's second goal in the second half, Son Heung-min and his teammates applauded and rejoiced. Daejeon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.11.14/ |
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| ◇대전=윤진만 기자 yoonjinman@sportschosun.com |
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Cho Kyu-sung replaced Son Heung-min (33, LA FC), who scored a picturesque first goal in the 31st minute of the second half against Bolivia. Hong Myung-bo won 2-0 with consecutive goals from Son Heung-min and Cho Kyu-sung.
In the mixed zone after the game, Cho Kyu-sung said, `I was so happy to score like this in front of so many fans. I didn't expect to play like this because it's been a long time since I came to the national team, but I think I'm more grateful to be able to score a goal while the coach gave me a chance."
As for the scoring scene "I think I've got some kind of tenacity. In the process of overcoming the physical fight, the balance collapsed, but I think he just made it up of his tenacity to put it in. " Regarding the ceremony of unfolding a corner flag with the World Cup slogan 'Beyond the limit, RED' after roaring, I thought I should do the ceremony even before the game. As soon as I saw the ceremony, the phrase 'World Cup' was written. I think something hit me right."
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| A match warm-up match between South Korea and Bolivia held at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on the 14th. South Korea won 2-0. Cho Kyu-sung is sharing his joy with director Hong Myung-bo. Daejeon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.11.14/ |
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| A warm-up match between the national soccer team and Paraguay at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 14th. Director Hong Myung-bo on the ground. Sangam = Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2025.10.14/ |
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On Cho Kyu-sung, Hong said, `There is no physical problem at all. However, I think it will take some time to regain sharpness. "I think the fact that he scored in a difficult situation proved the quality of the player. I think he will show better performance if he returns to his team after the friendly match and repeats the game. I scored for the first time in a long time, and congratulations from the bottom of my heart."
"I think I gained a lot of confidence while playing for my team," Cho Kyu-sung said. "It's hard to say 100% compared to before the injury, but I think I've become stronger mentally. Even before today's game, I thought it would be more fun than nervous. I was glad to be able to stand here again."
He also said, "(Oh) Hyun-kyu's goal was so cool. I feel like I'm learning a lot, too"Shouldn't the striker show it as a goal?" I scored a goal like this, and there are upcoming games. I wish I could score more goals. It is also important to show consistent performance in the team. I will try to improve my physical condition by repeating the game."
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
